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: 7662259
    Abstract: A method of dewatering a fabric includes contacting the fabric with an endless wicking substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Frank Stephen Hada
  • Publication number: 20090324909
    Abstract: Bath tissue rolls are provided with indicia or a visual cue representing the number of sheets remaining on the roll so the user better knows in advance when the remaining number of sheets on the roll is getting low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Simona Michele Hartley, Kanchan Dnyanesh Patkar, Suzanne Kim Vanderloop
  • Publication number: 20090321027
    Abstract: A method of making an environmentally-friendly tissue sheet for conversion into a single-ply roll product, such as bath tissue or paper towels, is disclosed. The method utilizes numerous process aspects that are determined to minimize energy consumption, which is about 100 grams CO2 equivalent emissions or less per 38 square feet of tissue, while at the same time producing a tissue roll product having desirable roll bulk, firmness and absorbency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, David Vincent Spitzley, Daniel Scott Westbrook
  • Publication number: 20090183846
    Abstract: Multi-ply tissue products are disclosed. The multi-ply tissue products contain tissue webs that have raised areas and depressed areas. The tissue webs may be constructed so as to be relatively non-compressive and may have a resilient three-dimensional structure. During production, in one embodiment, the tissue webs may be produced without being subjected to any substantial compression, such as a calendering process. Although not necessary in all applications, in one embodiment, the tissue webs may be combined such that the depressed areas contact each other to form the multi-ply product. The tissue webs, for instance, may comprise a through-air dried web in which the raised areas and the depressed areas are molded into the web. Tissue products made according to the present invention have enhanced absorption characteristics. For instance, the tissue products can have an interply absorbency of greater than about 3 g/g after 30 seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, James Monroe Perkins, Young Ko, Arvinder Pal Singh Kainth, Laura Lrigh Boudrie, James Leo Baggot, Michael John Smith
  • Patent number: 7524399
    Abstract: Multi-ply tissue products are disclosed. The multi-ply tissue products contain tissue webs that have raised areas and depressed areas. The tissue webs may be constructed so as to be relatively non-compressive and may have a resilient three-dimensional structure. During production, in one embodiment, the tissue webs may be produced without being subjected to any substantial compression, such as a calendering process. Although not necessary in all applications, in one embodiment, the tissue webs may be combined such that the depressed areas contact each other to form the multi-ply product. The tissue webs, for instance, may comprise a through-air dried web in which the raised areas and the depressed areas are molded into the web. Tissue products made according to the present invention have enhanced absorption characteristics. For instance, the tissue products can have an interply absorbency of greater than about 3 g/g after 30 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, James Monroe Perkins, Young Ko, Arvinder Pal Singh Kainth, Laura Leigh Boudrie, James Leo Baggot, Michael John Smith
  • Publication number: 20090065160
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to paper products having great softness and strength and methods of making the paper products. The paper products are formed from one or more paper webs that can be made according to various methods. In one embodiment, the paper web is an uncreped through-air dried web. According to the present invention, at least one side of the paper web is treated with a bonding material according to a preselected pattern and creped from a creping surface. Through the process, a two-sided tissue web is formed having a smooth side and a textured side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Mike T. Goulet, Mark Hassman, Rebecca C. Mohr, Jeffrey J. Johnson, Maurizio Tirimacco, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20090056894
    Abstract: The intrinsic tissue sheet properties of tissue sheets wound into a parent roll during manufacturing can be purposely varied in order to provide a z-directional gradient within the parent roll. For example, the moisture content of the tissue sheet can be made lower in the core region of the parent roll and greater in the outer region of the parent roll. Such gradients can ultimately provide more uniformity of the intrinsic property within the final tissue product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Richard Louis Underhill, Kenneth John Zwick
  • Patent number: 7497926
    Abstract: Spirally wound paper products are disclosed having desirable roll firmness characteristics and softness properties. The rolled products can be made from a single ply tissue web formed according to various processes. Once formed, the tissue web is subjected to a shear-calendering device that increases the fuzz-on-edge properties of the web and preserves the bulk of the web when wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Clayton C. Troxell, Tammy L. Baum, Sharon S. Chang, James Leo Baggot
  • Patent number: 7497925
    Abstract: Spirally wound paper products are disclosed having desirable roll firmness characteristics and softness properties. The rolled products can be made from a single ply tissue web formed according to various processes. Once formed, the tissue web is subjected to a shear-calendering device that increases the fuzz-on-edge properties of the web and preserves the bulk of the web when wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Clayton C. Troxell, Tammy L. Baum, Sharon S. Chang, James Leo Baggot
  • Publication number: 20080314540
    Abstract: A method of dewatering a fabric includes contacting the fabric with an endless wicking substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Frank Stephen Hada
  • Patent number: 7452446
    Abstract: A fabric dewatering apparatus for use after a fabric cleansing apparatus in a paper machine including: an endless wicking substrate disposed for rotation about a dryer roll; the endless wicking substrate and the fabric brought into surface contact as the fabric traverses at least a portion of the dryer roll's circumference; and a wicking substrate dewatering apparatus disposed along the wicking substrate's travel path after the dryer roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Frank Stephen Hada
  • Patent number: 7449085
    Abstract: Absorbent paper products, such as paper towels, are disclosed which have a combination of high absorbent capacity and a moderate to low rate of absorbency for hand protection. These properties can be produced, for example, using a throughdried basesheet, such as an uncreped throughdried sheet, in which at least one surface of which has been printed with a patterned moisture barrier coating and creped. The presence of the moisture barrier coating on the surface retards the absorbent rate for that side of the sheet while allowing a significant amount of liquid to pass through to the center of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Richard Joseph Behm, Mike Thomas Goulet, Mark John Hassman, Jeffrey Janne Johnson, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Rebecca Catherine Mohr, Maurizio Tirimacco
  • Publication number: 20080271862
    Abstract: A method of making soft, strong, high bulk tissue is disclosed. The method includes pre-conditioning a wet web by straining the wet web in the cross-machine direction prior to transferring the wet web to a throughdrying fabric. The pre-conditioned web provides improved sheet softness and conforms more readily to the surface contour of the throughdrying fabric, thereby creating greater caliper (bulk) in the resulting dried sheet. The bulk is maintained during a subsequent creping step by maintaining the dried sheet in registration with the throughdrying fabric when the dried sheet is applied to the surface of the creping cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Cristina Asensio Mullally, Stephanie Lee Berube, Frank Stephen Hada, Lacey Leigh Hansen, Jeffrey David Mathews
  • Patent number: 7435312
    Abstract: An improved paper and the process of making an improved paper web are disclosed. The improved paper is characterized as having two regions; one is a network (or open grid) region and the other is a plurality of domes. At least a portion of either region of the paper web contains a bonding material that penetrates at least partially through the paper's thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Michael Alan Hermans, Mike Thomas Goulet, Mark John Hassman, Maurizio Tirimacco, Jeffrey Janne Johnson, Rebecca Catherine Mohr
  • Patent number: 7422658
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to paper products having great softness and strength. The paper products are formed from one or more paper webs that can be made according to various methods. In one embodiment, the paper web is an uncreped through-air dried web. According to the present invention, at least one side of the paper web is treated with a bonding material according to a preselected pattern and creped from a creping surface. Through the process, a two-sided tissue web is formed having a smooth side and a textured side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Mike T. Goulet, Mark Hassman, Rebecca C. Mohr, Jeffrey J. Johnson, Maurizio Tirimacco, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20080210704
    Abstract: A container including: a container top having a dispensing opening formed from a plurality of top flaps; a container bottom disposed opposite the container top formed from a plurality of bottom flaps; and a plurality of decorative panels forming a sidewall of the container having a continuous decorative surface. The container is formed from a substantially symmetrical blank. As a result, the container can be loaded from either end on a cartoner. The container's continuous decorative surface on the sidewall allows for graphics on the container's sidewall to continue unimpeded. Advantageously, the container is designed for use on high speed cartoners and can be filled from either the top or the bottom as required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Leslie Thomas Lomg, Daniel Studd Grubb, Michael Alan Hermans
  • Patent number: 7419569
    Abstract: A method of making soft, strong, high bulk tissue is disclosed. The method includes pre-conditioning a wet web by straining the wet web in the cross-machine direction prior to transferring the wet web to a throughdrying fabric. The pre-conditioned web provides improved sheet softness and conforms more readily to the surface contour of the throughdrying fabric, thereby creating greater caliper (bulk) in the resulting dried sheet. The bulk is maintained during a subsequent creping step by maintaining the dried sheet in registration with the throughdrying fabric when the dried sheet is applied to the surface of the creping cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Cristina Asensio Mullally, Stephanie Lee Berube, Frank Stephen Hada, Lacey Leigh Hansen, Jeffrey David Mathews
  • Publication number: 20080135195
    Abstract: Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web as the web is being formed. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web in a post processing operation. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Michael J. Rekoske, Thomas Joseph Dyer
  • Patent number: 7377391
    Abstract: A container including: a container top having a dispensing opening formed from a plurality of top flaps; a container bottom disposed opposite the container top formed from a plurality of bottom flaps; and a plurality of decorative panels forming a sidewall of the container having a continuous decorative surface. The container is formed from a substantially symmetrical blank. As a result, the container can be loaded from either end on a cartoner. The container's continuous decorative surface on the sidewall allows for graphics on the container's sidewall to continue unimpeded. Advantageously, the container is designed for use on high speed cartoners and can be filled from either the top or the bottom as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Thomas Long, Daniel Studd Grubb, Jr., Michael Alan Hermans
  • Patent number: 7377995
    Abstract: Single-ply throughdried tissue sheets, particularly suitable as bath tissue, are produced with at least three layers. One or both of the outer layers suitably contain predominantly softwood fibers and a chemical bonding agent. One or more of the inner layers suitably contains a chemical debonder. The resulting tissues have a high level of durability and softness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Pachih Chen, Michael Alan Hermans, Pau-Lin Pawar, Thomas Gerard Shannon