Patents by Inventor Richard Louis Underhill
Richard Louis Underhill 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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Publication number: 20230407574Abstract: Soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?, and improved durability and cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as a CD Stretch greater than about 10 percent. Additionally, at the foregoing tensile strengths the products are not overly stiff. For example, the tissue products may have a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
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Patent number: 11773539Abstract: Soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?, and improved durability and cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as a CD Stretch greater than about 10 percent. Additionally, at the foregoing tensile strengths the products are not overly stiff. For example the tissue products may have a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
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Patent number: 11746473Abstract: The present invention provides mufti-layered tissue webs, and tissue product comprising the same, comprising long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers selectively deposited in one or more outer layers of the multi-layered web. Surprisingly disposing long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers in one or more outer layers, even in relatively modest amounts, may improve certain product properties, such as durability, without negatively affecting softness. In certain instances, both the softness and durability may be improved by selectively incorporating long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers in one or more of the outer layers.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Brent Merrik Thompson, Richard Louis Underhill
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Patent number: 11634870Abstract: The present invention provides multi-layered tissue webs, and tissue products comprising the same, the multi-layered webs comprising wood fibers and non-wood cellulosic fibers where the non-wood cellulosic fibers are selectively deposited in one or more outer layers of the multi-layered web. Surprisingly disposing non-wood cellulosic fibers in the outer layers, even in relatively modest amounts, alters the machine and/or cross-machine direction properties of the resulting web, such that MD:CD tensile ratio may be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill
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Publication number: 20230122650Abstract: Soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?, and improved durability and cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as a CD Stretch greater than about 10 percent. Additionally, at the foregoing tensile strengths the products are not overly stiff. For example the tissue products may have a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
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Patent number: 11566379Abstract: Soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?, and improved durability and cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as a CD Stretch greater than about 10 percent. Additionally, at the foregoing tensile strengths the products are not overly stiff. For example the tissue products may have a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
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Publication number: 20220290378Abstract: The present invention provides mufti-layered tissue webs, and tissue product comprising the same, comprising long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers selectively deposited in one or more outer layers of the multi-layered web. Surprisingly disposing long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers in one or more outer layers, even in relatively modest amounts, may improve certain product properties, such as durability, without negatively affecting softness. In certain instances, both the softness and durability may be improved by selectively incorporating long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers in one or more of the outer layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Brent Merrik Thompson, Richard Louis Underhill
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Patent number: 11384484Abstract: The present invention provides multi-layered tissue webs, and tissue product comprising the same, comprising long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers selectively deposited in one or more outer layers of the multi-layered web. Surprisingly disposing long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers in one or more outer layers, even in relatively modest amounts, may improve certain product properties, such as durability, without negatively affecting softness. In certain instances, both the softness and durability may be improved by selectively incorporating long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers in one or more of the outer layers.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Brent Merrik Thompson, Richard Louis Underhill
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Patent number: 11261568Abstract: The disclosure provides a wet-pressed tissue product comprising Agave fiber and having improved sheet bulk and good 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 three-layered single-ply wet-pressed tissue product comprising high-yield Agave fibers from the leaves of Agave tequilana, Eucalyptus Hardwood Kraft (EHWK) fibers and Northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK), wherein the high-yield Agave fibers comprise at least about 5.0 percent by weight of the tissue product, the product having a CD tensile greater than about 450 g/3? and sheet bulk greater than about 7.0 cc/g.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2016Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, Thomas Gerard Shannon, John Matthew Reiser
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Publication number: 20210340710Abstract: The present invention provides multi-layered tissue webs, and tissue product comprising the same, comprising long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers selectively deposited in one or more outer layers of the multi-layered web. Surprisingly disposing long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers in one or more outer layers, even in relatively modest amounts, may improve certain product properties, such as durability, without negatively affecting softness. In certain instances, both the softness and durability may be improved by selectively incorporating long, high-coarseness wood pulp fibers in one or more of the outer layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Brent Merrik Thompson, Richard Louis Underhill
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Patent number: 11162223Abstract: The invention relates to fibrous structures having desirable physical properties, such as good tensile strength, low stiffness and high bulk, manufactured using a fiber furnish comprising cellulosic fibers having a pH of 5.0 or less and at least one strength resin. Not only do structures prepared with acidic fibers have desirable physical properties, they may also be manufactured in an energy efficient manner. To achieve the greatest energy savings it is generally desirable that acidic fibers not be subjected to mechanical treatment, such as by refining, prior to forming the fiber into a fibrous structure. Further, it may be desirable to subject the remainder of the fiber furnish to a minimal degree of mechanical treatment, such as by refining, so as to produce a furnish having a freeness greater than about 550 mL.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: David John Paulson, Richard Louis Underhill, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick
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Publication number: 20210292973Abstract: The present invention provides multi-layered tissue webs, and tissue products comprising the same, the multi-layered webs comprising wood fibers and non-wood cellulosic fibers where the non-wood cellulosic fibers are selectively deposited in one or more outer layers of the multi-layered web. Surprisingly disposing non-wood cellulosic fibers in the outer layers, even in relatively modest amounts, alters the machine and/or cross-machine direction properties of the resulting web, such that MD:CD tensile ratio may be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill
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Patent number: 11053643Abstract: The present invention provides multi-layered tissue webs, and tissue products comprising the same, the multi-layered webs comprising wood fibers and non-wood cellulosic fibers where the non-wood cellulosic fibers are selectively deposited in one or more outer layers of the multi-layered web. Surprisingly disposing non-wood cellulosic fibers in the outer layers, even in relatively modest amounts, alters the machine and/or cross-machine direction properties of the resulting web, such that MD:CD tensile ratio may be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2017Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill
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Publication number: 20210156093Abstract: Soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?, and improved durability and cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as a CD Stretch greater than about 10 percent. Additionally, at the foregoing tensile strengths the products are not overly stiff. For example the tissue products may have a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
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Patent number: 10947673Abstract: Soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?, and improved durability and cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as a CD Stretch greater than about 10 percent. Additionally, at the foregoing tensile strengths the products are not overly stiff. For example the tissue products may have a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
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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: 20200232166Abstract: The present invention provides multi-layered tissue webs, and tissue products comprising the same, the multi-layered webs comprising wood fibers and non-wood cellulosic fibers where the non-wood cellulosic fibers are selectively deposited in one or more outer layers of the multi-layered web. Surprisingly disposing non-wood cellulosic fibers in the outer layers, even in relatively modest amounts, alters the machine and/or cross-machine direction properties of the resulting web, such that MD:CD tensile ratio may be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2017Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill
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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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Publication number: 20200102705Abstract: Soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?, and improved durability and cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as a CD Stretch greater than about 10 percent. Additionally, at the foregoing tensile strengths the products are not overly stiff. For example the tissue products may have a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
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Publication number: 20200040529Abstract: The disclosure provides fibrous structures and tissue products comprising a volatile agave compound selected from the group consisting of limonene, hexanaldehyde and 6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one. The volatile agave compounds may be provided by forming the structures at least in-part from agave fiber, such as Agave tequilana fiber. In other embodiments the volatile agave compounds may be incorporated in the fibrous structures by adding the compounds during formation of the fibrous structure, such as by adding the compounds to the furnish, or by topically applying the compounds to the fibrous structure after formation, in order to provide a lemon-like scent to the fibrous structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2016Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, John Matthew Reiser, Thomas Gerard Shannon, Priyadarshini Gadgil