Patents by Inventor Kevin Leon LaBerge

Kevin Leon LaBerge 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: 10914039
    Abstract: The present invention provides soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly hesperaloe fiber. The inventors have discovered that high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber, when incorporated in amounts of at least about 5 percent by weight of the tissue product, produces products having a GMT less than about 1000 g/3? and a GM Slope less than about 7.0 kg. At the foregoing tensile strengths and modulus the tissue products of the present invention are also generally soft, such as having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0, and more preferably less than about 9.0, such as from about 7.0 to about 9.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Publication number: 20200115853
    Abstract: The present invention provides soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly hesperaloe fiber. The inventors have discovered that high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber, when incorporated in amounts of at least about 5 percent by weight of the tissue product, produces products having a GMT less than about 1000 g/3? and a GM Slope less than about 7.0 kg. At the foregoing tensile strengths and modulus the tissue products of the present invention are also generally soft, such as having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0, and more preferably less than about 9.0, such as from about 7.0 to about 9.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Patent number: 10550522
    Abstract: The present invention provides soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly hesperaloe fiber. The inventors have discovered that high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber, when incorporated in amounts of at least about 5 percent by weight of the tissue product, produces products having a GMT less than about 1000 g/3? and a GM Slope less than about 7.0 kg. At the foregoing tensile strengths and modulus the tissue products of the present invention are also generally soft, such as having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0, and more preferably less than about 9.0, such as from about 7.0 to about 9.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Patent number: 10519601
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tissue products comprising high yield hesperaloe fiber having improved wet performance, such as improved absorbency, CD Wet/Dry Ratio and CD Wet Durability. The addition of high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers surprisingly improves the CD Wet/Dry ratio without negatively affecting the absorbency of the tissue product. For example, tissue products of the present invention generally have an Absorbent Capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g, such as from about 6.0 to 8.0 g/g. As such the tissue products are durable when wet, but are still sufficiently absorbent. This balance of absorbency and wet strength is not found in the prior art without resorting to adding latex binders or the like to the tissue product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Publication number: 20190100883
    Abstract: The present invention provides soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly hesperaloe fiber. The inventors have discovered that high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber, when incorporated in amounts of at least about 5 percent by weight of the tissue product, produces products having a GMT less than about 1000 g/3? and a GM Slope less than about 7.0 kg. At the foregoing tensile strengths and modulus the tissue products of the present invention are also generally soft, such as having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0, and more preferably less than about 9.0, such as from about 7.0 to about 9.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Publication number: 20190100878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tissue products comprising high yield hesperaloe fiber having improved wet performance, such as improved absorbency, CD Wet/Dry Ratio and CD Wet Durability. The addition of high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers surprisingly improves the CD Wet/Dry ratio without negatively affecting the absorbency of the tissue product. For example, tissue products of the present invention generally have an Absorbent Capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g, such as from about 6.0 to 8.0 g/g. As such the tissue products are durable when wet, but are still sufficiently absorbent. This balance of absorbency and wet strength is not found in the prior art without resorting to adding latex binders or the like to the tissue product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Patent number: 10145069
    Abstract: The present invention provides soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly hesperaloe fiber. The inventors have discovered that high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber, when incorporated in amounts of at least about 5 percent by weight of the tissue product, produces products having a GMT less than about 1000 g/3? and a GM Slope less than about 7.0 kg. At the foregoing tensile strengths and modulus the tissue products of the present invention are also generally soft, such as having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0, and more preferably less than about 9.0, such as from about 7.0 to about 9.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Patent number: 10145066
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tissue products comprising high yield hesperaloe fiber having improved wet performance, such as improved absorbency, CD Wet/Dry Ratio and CD Wet Durability. The addition of high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers surprisingly improves the CD Wet/Dry ratio without negatively affecting the absorbency of the tissue product. For example, tissue products of the present invention generally have an Absorbent Capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g, such as from about 8.0 to 8.0 g/g. As such the tissue products are durable when wet, but are still sufficiently absorbent. This balance of absorbency and wet strength is not found in the prior art without resorting to adding latex binders or the like to the tissue product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Publication number: 20180135249
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tissue products comprising high yield hesperaloe fiber having improved wet performance, such as improved absorbency, CD Wet/Dry Ratio and CD Wet Durability. The addition of high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers surprisingly improves the CD Wet/Dry ratio without negatively affecting the absorbency of the tissue product. For example, tissue products of the present invention generally have an Absorbent Capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g, such as from about 8.0 to 8.0 g/g. As such the tissue products are durable when wet, but are still sufficiently absorbent. This balance of absorbency and wet strength is not found in the prior art without resorting to adding latex binders or the like to the tissue product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Publication number: 20180135253
    Abstract: The present invention provides soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly hesperaloe fiber. The inventors have discovered that high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber, when incorporated in amounts of at least about 5 percent by weight of the tissue product, produces products having a GMT less than about 1000 g/3? and a GM Slope less than about 7.0 kg. At the foregoing tensile strengths and modulus the tissue products of the present invention are also generally soft, such as having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0, and more preferably less than about 9.0, such as from about 7.0 to about 9.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Patent number: 9308131
    Abstract: A permanently closed containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis. The sling is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch. The sling also includes a first transition and a second transition that are elastically extensible in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. The base sheet is a fabric laminated with polyurethane and the containment flap is a fabric laminated with polyurethane. The polyurethane surface of the base sheet is ultrasonically joined in facing relationship with the polyurethane surface of the containment flap. The permanently closed containment pant is substantially devoid of an integrated absorbent core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacy Elaine Evenson, Stephen Carl Baumgartner, Angela Ann Johnston, Marcille Faye Ruman, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Connie May McMorrow, Brooke Ann Robaidek, Katherine Carol Shaw
  • Patent number: 9198806
    Abstract: A permanently closed containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis. The sling is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch. The sling also includes a first transition and a second transition that are elastically extensible in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. Material properties of the pouch and chassis provide the proper fit for comfort and leakage protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederique Vignali, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Robert Lee Popp, Lewis Preole Orchard, IV, Jennifer Ann Diedrich, Stacy Elaine Evenson
  • Patent number: 9011398
    Abstract: A method for providing a containment system includes providing a permanently closed containment pant and providing a discrete absorbent insert. The containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis that includes a fluid-impervious pouch. The pouch has a first end section maximum width of at least 145 mm, a central section maximum width of less than 115 mm, and a second end section maximum width of at least 145 mm. The containment pant is substantially devoid of an integrated absorbent core. The absorbent insert includes an absorbent core with a first end section maximum width of at least 120 mm, a central section maximum width of less than 100 mm, and a second end section maximum width of at least 120 mm. The absorbent insert is devoid of a fluid-impervious layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Angela Ann Johnston, Paula Katherine De Bruin, Stacy Elaine Evenson, Katherine Carol Shaw, Kevin Michael Jauquet, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Connie May McMorrow, Brooke Ann Robaidek, Gay Lynn Wolf, Marcille Faye Ruman, Nicole Minotti, Stephen Carl Baumgartner
  • Publication number: 20140018762
    Abstract: A permanently closed containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis. The sling is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch. The sling also includes a first transition and a second transition that are elastically extensible in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. Material properties of the pouch and chassis provide the proper fit for comfort and leakage protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Frederique Vignali, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Robert Lee Popp, Lewis Preole Orchard, 4th, Jennifer Ann Diedrich, Stacy Elaine Evenson
  • Publication number: 20140013490
    Abstract: A permanently closed containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis. The sling is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch. The sling also includes a first transition and a second transition that are elastically extensible in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. The base sheet is a fabric laminated with polyurethane and the containment flap is a fabric laminated with polyurethane. The polyurethane surface of the base sheet is ultrasonically joined in facing relationship with the polyurethane surface of the containment flap. The permanently closed containment pant is substantially devoid of an integrated absorbent core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Stacy Elaine Evenson, Stephen Carl Baumgartner, Angela Ann Johnston, Marcille Faye Ruman, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Connie M. McMorrow, Brooke Ann Robaidek, Katherine Carol Shaw
  • Publication number: 20140018764
    Abstract: A method for providing a containment system includes providing a permanently closed containment pant and providing a discrete absorbent insert. The containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis that includes a fluid-impervious pouch. The pouch has a first end section maximum width of at least 145 mm, a central section maximum width of less than 115 mm, and a second end section maximum width of at least 145 mm. The containment pant is substantially devoid of an integrated absorbent core. The absorbent insert includes an absorbent core with a first end section maximum width of at least 120 mm, a central section maximum width of less than 100 mm, and a second end section maximum width of at least 120 mm. The absorbent insert is devoid of a fluid-impervious layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Angela Ann Johnston, Paula Katherine De Bruin, Stacy Elaine Evenson, Katherine Carol Shaw, Kevin Michael Jauquet, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Connie May McMorrow, Brooke Ann Robaidek, Gay Lynn Wolf, Marcille Faye Ruman, Nicole Minotti, Stephen Carl Baumgartner