Patents by Inventor Linda A. Connor

Linda A. Connor 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: 6368689
    Abstract: A rolled web of centerflow material, such as paper or non-woven material includes perforation lines separating the material into individual wipes or sheets. Each perforation line comprises a varying perforation profile defined by opposite edge portions and a middle portion having generally the same bond strengths, and intermediate portions between the edge and middle portions having a different bond strength. This perforation profile is effective in reducing dispensing defects, and particularly streaming/roping defects. Alternatively, the perforation line may have stronger edge portions adjacent at lest one weaker middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda A. Connor Sledge, Tammy L. Baum, John R. Hanson, Donald E. Waldroup
  • Patent number: 5455110
    Abstract: Fabrics having good bulk, barrier properties and air permeability are made by laminating a first flat spunbond web formed from thermoplastic fibers, a three-dimensional nonwoven meltblown web formed from thermoplastic fibers and a second flat spunbond web formed from thermoplastic fibers, wherein the three-dimensional nonwoven web is located between the first and second spunbond webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Linda A. Connor
  • Patent number: 5425987
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance and comparable strength and softness properties. The thermoplastic elastomeric copolymer is preferably A-B-A' block copolymer wherein A and A' are each a thermoplastic endblock which includes a styrenic moiety and wherein B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) mid block. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Susan E. Shawver, Linda A. Connor, Paul W. Estey, Jay S. Shultz, David C. Strack
  • Patent number: 5405682
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance and comparable strength and softness properties. The thermoplastic elastomeric copolymer is preferably A-B-A' block copolymer wherein A and A' are each a thermoplastic endblock which includes a styrenic moiety and wherein B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) mid block. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Susan E. Shawyer, Linda A. Connor, Paul W. Estey, Jay S. Shultz, David C. Strack
  • Patent number: 5366786
    Abstract: There is disclosed a thermally bonded spunbond web of thermoplastic filaments and a nonwoven fabric laminate comprising an internal layer of meltblown thermoplastic microfibers sandwiched between two layers of spunbond thermoplastic filaments. The spunbond web and the spunbond layers of the fabric laminate consist of thermoplastic filaments which are formed from a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer and an effective amount of a nucleating agent. The layers are bonded by thermal spot bonding. In the preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic polymer is polypropylene with a melt-flow rate of at 230 .degree. C. of or greater than 12 grams per ten minutes. Also in the preferred embodiment, the nucleating agent constitutes from about 0.1 to 0.3 percent by weight of the mixture of polypropylene and nucleating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Linda A. Connor, Peter Maddern
  • Patent number: 5336552
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance, strength, toughness and softness properties. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: David C. Strack, Linda A. Connor, Sharon W. Gwaltney, Ann L. McCormack, Susan E. Shawver, Jay S. Shultz
  • Patent number: 4931355
    Abstract: Nonwoven fibrous non-elastic webs, reinforced nonwoven fibrous non-elastic webs and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The nonwoven fibrous non-elastic webs are a hydraulically entangled coform or admixture of non-elastic meltblown fibers and fibrous material, with or without particulate material. The fibrous material (e.g., non-elastic fibrous material) can be at least one of pulp fibers, staple fibers, meltblown fibers and continuous filaments. The use of meltblown fibers facilitates the hydraulic entangling, resulting in a high degree of entanglement and enabling the more effective use of shorter fibrous material. The hydraulic entangling technique provides a nonwoven fibrous material having increased web strength and allows for better control of other product attributes, such as absorbency, wet strength, printability and abrasion resistance. The coform can be hydraulically entangled with a reinforcing material, e.g., a melt-spun nonwoven, a scrim, screen, net, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Inventors: Fred R. Radwanski, Lloyd E. Trimble, Leon E. Chambers, Jr., Linda A. Connor
  • Patent number: 4879170
    Abstract: Nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web material, including absorbent webs and fabric web material, and methods of forming the same, are disclosed. The elastomeric web material is a hydraulically entangled coform or admixture of (1) meltblown fibers, such as elastic meltblown fibers and (2) pulp fibers and/or staple fibers and/or meltblown fibers and/or continuous filaments, with or without particulate material; such coform can be hydraulically entangled by itself or with other materials, including, e.g., super absorbent particulate material. The use of meltblown fibers facilitates the hydraulic entangling, resulting in a high degree of entanglement and enabling the use of shorter staple or pulp fibers. The hydraulic entangling technique provides a nonwoven fibrous elastic material having increased web strength and integrity, and allows for better control of other product attributes, such as absorbency, wet strength and abrasion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Fred R. Radwanski, Lloyd E. Trimble, Roland C. Smith, Linda A. Connor