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).

  • Publication number: 20230407574
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 11773539
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 11746473
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Brent Merrik Thompson, Richard Louis Underhill
  • Patent number: 11634870
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill
  • Publication number: 20230122650
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 11566379
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Publication number: 20220290378
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Brent Merrik Thompson, Richard Louis Underhill
  • Patent number: 11384484
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Brent Merrik Thompson, Richard Louis Underhill
  • Patent number: 11261568
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, Thomas Gerard Shannon, John Matthew Reiser
  • Publication number: 20210340710
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Brent Merrik Thompson, Richard Louis Underhill
  • Patent number: 11162223
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: David John Paulson, Richard Louis Underhill, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick
  • Publication number: 20210292973
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill
  • Patent number: 11053643
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill
  • Publication number: 20210156093
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 10947673
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 10914039
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Publication number: 20200232166
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill
  • Publication number: 20200115853
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Publication number: 20200102705
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Publication number: 20200040529
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, John Matthew Reiser, Thomas Gerard Shannon, Priyadarshini Gadgil