Patents by Inventor Michael Alan Hermans

Michael Alan Hermans 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: 10132041
    Abstract: The present invention relates to soft, durable tissue products comprising Southern softwood fibers and more particularly low-coarseness Southern softwood fibers. The inventive tissue products generally comprise little or no Northern softwood kraft fibers yet have comparable or better tissue product properties such as a TS750 value (a measure of tissue softness) less than about 50 dB V2 rms and a CD Tear Index (a measurement of tissue durability) greater than about 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Richard Louis Underhill, Kayla Elizabeth Rouse
  • Patent number: 9915033
    Abstract: Creped tissue webs having low surface-roughness and high sheet bulk are disclosed. Specifically creped, single ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MIU (MMD) of less than about 0.040 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 12 cc/g are disclosed. Additionally creped, multi-ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MUI (MMD) of less than about 0.035 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 10 cc/g are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Samuel August Nelson, Paulin Pawar, Jeffrey James Timm, Kyle Andrew Krautkramer, Robert Eugene Krautkramer, Frank Stephen Hada
  • Patent number: 9896805
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a wet-pressed tissue product having improved cross-machine tensile, toughness and durability properties. Cross-machine properties are significant because tissue products often fail in the cross-machine direction because it is often the weaker of the two product orientations (cross and machine directions). Accordingly, in certain embodiments the present disclosure provides a conventional wet pressed tissue product having a CD Tensile greater than about 450 g/3? and a CD Stretch greater than about 6.0 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey James Timm, Michael Alan Hermans
  • Publication number: 20180044859
    Abstract: The present invention relates to soft, durable tissue products comprising Southern softwood fibers and more particularly low-coarseness Southern softwood fibers. The inventive tissue products generally comprise little or no Northern softwood kraft fibers yet have comparable or better tissue product properties such as a TS750 value (a measure of tissue softness) less than about 50 dB V2 rms and a CD Tear Index (a measurement of tissue durability) greater than about 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Richard Louis Underhill, Kayla Elizabeth Rouse
  • Publication number: 20170370036
    Abstract: The present invention provides a creped tissue web having a CD Wet/Dry ratio that meets or exceeds satisfactory levels without the excess use of a wet strength resin. The satisfactory level of CD Wet/Dry ratio is generally greater than about 0.40, more preferably greater than about 0.42 and still more preferably greater than about 0.44, such as from about 0.40 to about 0.45. The satisfactory level of CD Wet/Dry ratio is surprisingly achieved by treating the tissue making furnish with a relatively modest amount of non-wood synthetic fibers, preferably fibrillated acrylic fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Maurizio Tirimacco, Jeffrey James Timm
  • Publication number: 20170284029
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to creped tissue webs that demonstrate low surface-roughness and high sheet bulk. The present disclosure relates to a creped, single ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MIU (MMD) of less than about 0.040 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 12 cc/g. The present disclosure also relates to a creped, multi-ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MUI (MMD) of less than about 0.035 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 10 cc/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Samuel August Nelson, Paulin Pawar, Jeffrey James Timm, Kyle Andrew Krautkramer, Robert Eugene Krautkramer, Frank Stephen Hada
  • Patent number: 9714485
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to creped tissue webs that demonstrate low surface-roughness and high sheet bulk. The present disclosure relates to a creped, single ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MIU (MMD) of less than about 0.040 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 12 cc/g. The present disclosure also relates to a creped, multi-ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MUI (MMD) of less than about 0.035 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 10 cc/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Samuel August Nelson, Paulin Pawar, Jeffrey James Timm, Kyle Andrew Krautkramer, Robert Eugene Krautkramer, Frank Stephen Hada
  • Publication number: 20170204568
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a wet-pressed tissue product having improved cross-machine tensile, toughness and durability properties. Cross-machine properties are significant because tissue products often fail in the cross-machine direction because it is often the weaker of the two product orientations (cross and machine directions). Accordingly, in certain embodiments the present disclosure provides a conventional wet pressed tissue product having a CD Tensile greater than about 450 g/3? and a CD Stretch greater than about 6.0 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey James Timm, Michael Alan Hermans
  • Patent number: 9580871
    Abstract: The present disclosure offers an improvement in papermaking methods and products, by providing a tissue sheet and a method to obtain a tissue sheet, with improved absorbency at a given basis weight. Thus, by way of example, the present disclosure provides a single ply tissue sheet having a basis weight greater than about 50 gsm and a specific vertical absorbent capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maruizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick
  • Patent number: 9580870
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue products having a high degree of stretch and low modulus at relatively high tensile strengths, such as geometric mean tensile strengths greater than about 1500 g/3? and more preferably greater than about 2000 g/3?. The combination of a tough, yet relatively supple sheet is preferably achieved by subjecting the embryonic web to a speed differential as it is passed from one fabric in the papermaking process to another, commonly referred to as rush transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Angela Ann Johnston, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maurizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick, Mark William Sachs, Jeffrey Dean Holz
  • Publication number: 20160362843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to soft, durable wet pressed tissue products comprising Southern softwood fibers and more particularly low-coarseness Southern softwood fibers. The inventive tissue products generally comprise little or no Northern softwood kraft fibers yet have comparable or better tissue product properties such as a TS7 value (a measure of tissue softness) less than about 20.0 dB V2 rms and a CD Durability Index (a measurement of tissue durability) greater than about 14.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Alan HERMANS, Richard Louis UNDERHILL, Kayla Elizabeth ROUSE
  • Publication number: 20160355987
    Abstract: The present disclosure offers an improvement in papermaking methods and products, by providing a tissue sheet and a method to obtain a tissue sheet, with improved absorbency at a given basis weight. Thus, by way of example, the present disclosure provides a single ply tissue sheet having a basis weight greater than about 50 gsm and a specific vertical absorbent capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maruizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick
  • Publication number: 20160319488
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue products having a high degree of stretch and low modulus at relatively high tensile strengths, such as geometric mean tensile strengths greater than about 1500 g/3? and more preferably greater than about 2000 g/3?. The combination of a tough, yet relatively supple sheet is preferably achieved by subjecting the embryonic web to a speed differential as it is passed from one fabric in the papermaking process to another, commonly referred to as rush transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Angela Ann Johnston, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maurizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick, Mark William Sachs, Jeffrey Dean Holz
  • Patent number: 9447545
    Abstract: The present disclosure offers an improvement in papermaking methods and products, by providing a tissue sheet and a method to obtain a tissue sheet, with improved absorbency at a given basis weight. Thus, by way of example, the present disclosure provides a single ply tissue sheet having a basis weight greater than about 50 gsm and a specific vertical absorbent capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maurizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick
  • Patent number: 9410290
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue products having a high degree of stretch and low modulus at relatively high tensile strengths, such as geometric mean tensile strengths greater than about 1500 g/3? and more preferably greater than about 2000 g/3?. The combination of a tough, yet relatively supple sheet is preferably achieved by subjecting the embryonic web to a speed differential as it is passed from one fabric in the papermaking process to another, commonly referred to as rush transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Angela Ann Johnston, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maurizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick, Mark William Sachs, Jeffrey Dean Holz
  • Publication number: 20160145809
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to creped tissue webs that demonstrate low surface-roughness and high sheet bulk. The present disclosure relates to a creped, single ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MIU (MMD) of less than about 0.040 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 12 cc/g. The present disclosure also relates to a creped, multi-ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MUI (MMD) of less than about 0.035 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 10 cc/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Samuel August Nelson, Paulin Pawar, Jeffrey James Timm, Kyle Andrew Krautkramer, Robert Eugene Krautkramer, Frank Stephen Hada
  • Publication number: 20160090697
    Abstract: The present disclosure offers an improvement in papermaking methods and products, by providing a tissue sheet and a method to obtain a tissue sheet, with improved absorbency at a given basis weight. Thus, by way of example, the present disclosure provides a single ply tissue sheet having a basis weight greater than about 50 gsm and a specific vertical absorbent capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maurizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick
  • Publication number: 20160069027
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue products having increased CD stretch, which may be manufactured using a process in which the nascent web is subjected to two distinct rush transfers. The first rush transfer occurs when the web is transferred from the forming fabric to the transfer fabric, i.e., the “first position,” and the second occurs when the web is transferred from the transfer fabric to the through-air drying fabric (TAD) fabric, i.e., the “second position.” The overall speed differential between the forming fabric and the TAD fabric may be, for example, from about 10 to about 50 percent, with the amount of rush transfer being divided between the first and second position in a manner sufficient to achieve the desired CD stretch and other sheet properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Samuel August Nelson, Mark William Sachs
  • Publication number: 20160053439
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue products having a high degree of stretch and low modulus at relatively high tensile strengths, such as geometric mean tensile strengths greater than about 1500 g/3? and more preferably greater than about 2000 g/3?. The combination of a tough, yet relatively supple sheet is preferably achieved by subjecting the embryonic web to a speed differential as it is passed from one fabric in the papermaking process to another, commonly referred to as rush transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Angela Ann Johnston, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maurizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick, Mark William Sachs, Jeffrey Dean Holz
  • Patent number: 9234313
    Abstract: The present disclosure offers an improvement in papermaking methods and products, by providing a tissue sheet and a method to obtain a tissue sheet, with improved absorbency at a given basis weight. Thus, by way of example, the present disclosure provides a single ply tissue sheet having a basis weight greater than about 50 gsm and a specific vertical absorbent capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Gretchen Sarah Koch, Maurizio Tirimacco, Erin Ann McCormick