Patents by Inventor Patricia Hwang Calhoun

Patricia Hwang Calhoun 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).

  • Elastic-powered shrink laminate
    Patent number: 8003553
    Abstract: An elastic-powered shrink laminate includes a shrinkable layer and an elastic layer bonded together while the elastic layer is in a dimensionally unstable, stretched state. The elastic layer remains substantially in the stretched state prior to shrinkage of the shrinkable layer. When the shrinkable layer is activated, the laminate retracts, and the retraction is aided (i.e. powered) by the elastic layer. The elastic-powered shrink laminate is useful in personal care absorbent articles where latent, post-assembly retraction of a waistband region is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James Russell Fitts, Jr., Janis Wilson Hughes, Patricia Hwang Calhoun, Wing-Chak Ng, Glynis Allicia Walton
  • Latent elastic articles and methods of making thereof
    Patent number: 7491666
    Abstract: A composite nonwoven fabric having latent elasticity is provided having a latently elastic core comprising a first component that includes a thermoplastic elastomer and a second component that includes a single site catalyzed polyolefin, and at least one gatherable facing material laminated to the elastic core. The first and second components may be, for example, in the form of alternating filaments of styrenic block copolymer and single site catalyzed polyolefin or in the form of conjugate filaments having a first section of styrenic block copolymer and a second section of single site catalyzed polyolefin. Also disclosed are methods of making the latently elastic stretch bonded laminates and personal care articles containing the latently elastic stretch bonded laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Allen Smith, Patricia Hwang Calhoun, James Russell Fitts, Jr., Janis Wilson Hughes, Tamara Lee Mace, Glynis Allicia Walton
  • Multicomponent fiber including elastic elements
    Patent number: 7238423
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are multicomponent fibers, and particularly sheath-and-core type multicomponent fibers including elastic polymers. The multicomponent fibers have at least three cross sectional elements, wherein a first cross sectional element is an outer sheath element, the second cross sectional element is an inner sheath element, and the third cross sectional element may be either a hollow element or a filled core element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia Hwang Calhoun, Chad Isaac Medlock, Roland Columbus Smith, Jr.
  • Elastic-powered shrink laminate
    Publication number: 20070141354
    Abstract: An elastic-powered shrink laminate includes a shrinkable layer and an elastic layer bonded together while the elastic layer is in a dimensionally unstable, stretched state. The elastic layer remains substantially in the stretched state prior to shrinkage of the shrinkable layer. When the shrinkable layer is activated, the laminate retracts, and the retraction is aided (i.e. powered) by the elastic layer. The elastic-powered shrink laminate is useful in personal care absorbent articles where latent, post-assembly retraction of a waistband region is desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: James Russell Fitts, Janis Wilson Hughes, Patricia Hwang Calhoun, Wing-Chak NG, Glynis Allicia Walton
  • Slit neck spunbond process and material
    Patent number: 6785937
    Abstract: A process for making a plurality of necked nonwoven strips having similar or identical cross-directional profiles includes the steps of slitting a neckable nonwoven web into a plurality of neckable nonwoven strips, passing the neckable nonwoven web between a first pair of nip rollers having a first surface velocity and a second pair of nip rollers having a second surface velocity greater than the first surface velocity, and necking the nonwoven web between the first pair of nip rollers and the second pair of nip rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tod Morman, Gregory Todd Sudduth, Robert James Gerndt, Mark G. Kupelian, Angela Dobson, Patricia Hwang Calhoun, Courtney E. Shea, Rasha W. Guirguis, Robert Wright, John Joseph Sayovitz
  • Slit neck spunbond process and material
    Publication number: 20030200636
    Abstract: A process for making a plurality of necked nonwoven strips having similar or identical cross-directional profiles includes the steps of slitting a neckable nonwoven web into a plurality of neckable nonwoven strips, passing the neckable nonwoven web between a first pair of nip rollers having a first surface velocity and a second pair of nip rollers having a second surface velocity greater than the first surface velocity, and necking the nonwoven web between the first pair of nip rollers and the second pair of nip rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Tod Morman, Gregory Todd Sudduth, Robert James Gerndt, Mark Gilbert Kupelian, Angela Grace Dobson, Patricia Hwang Calhoun, Courtney Eileen Shea, Rasha Wafik Zaki Guirguis, Robert David Wright, John Joseph Sayovitz