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).
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Patent number: 10914039Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Publication number: 20200115853Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Patent number: 10550522Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Patent number: 10519601Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Publication number: 20190100878Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Publication number: 20190100883Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Patent number: 10145066Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 29, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Patent number: 10145069Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 29, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Publication number: 20180135253Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2015Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Publication number: 20180135249Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2015Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
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Patent number: 9308131Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 9198806Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Frederique Vignali, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Robert Lee Popp, Lewis Preole Orchard, IV, Jennifer Ann Diedrich, Stacy Elaine Evenson
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Patent number: 9011398Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20140018762Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Inventors: Frederique Vignali, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Robert Lee Popp, Lewis Preole Orchard, 4th, Jennifer Ann Diedrich, Stacy Elaine Evenson
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Publication number: 20140013490Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Inventors: Stacy Elaine Evenson, Stephen Carl Baumgartner, Angela Ann Johnston, Marcille Faye Ruman, Kevin Leon LaBerge, Connie M. McMorrow, Brooke Ann Robaidek, Katherine Carol Shaw
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Publication number: 20140018764Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Inventors: 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