Patents by Inventor Richard N. Dodge, II

Richard N. Dodge, II 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: 8957278
    Abstract: An absorbent article has an absorbent composite that includes a water-insoluble fibrous matrix, a superabsorbent polymer composition that has an initial absorbent capacity of at least about 5 grams of saline per gram of superabsorbent polymer composition; and a first triggering mechanism having a first release time of between about 5 and 60 minutes, and a second triggering mechanism. The superabsorbent polymer composition may have a second absorbent capacity that is at least about 25% greater than the first absorbent capacity as measured by the mCRC Test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc.
    Inventors: Arvinder P. Singh Kainth, Richard N Dodge, II, David L Zenker
  • Patent number: 8383877
    Abstract: An absorbent composite includes a water-insoluble fibrous matrix, a superabsorbent polymer composition that has an initial absorbent capacity of at least about 5 grams of saline per gram of superabsorbent polymer composition; and a first triggering mechanism having a first release time of between about 5 and 60 minutes, where the superabsorbent polymer composition has a second absorbent capacity that is at least about 25 % greater than the first absorbent capacity as measured by the mCRC Test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Arvinder P. Singh Kainth, Richard N. Dodge, II, David L. Zenker
  • Patent number: 7977531
    Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles that include absorbent compositions which exhibit swelling, deswelling, and reswelling behavior. More specifically, absorbent compositions of this invention swell and absorb fluids after exposure to aqueous fluids, deswell and release fluids from the swollen absorbent compositions, and can also reswell and absorb fluids. The swelling-deswelling-reswelling behavior allows enhanced liquid distribution in absorbent composites and absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard N. Dodge, II, Jian Qin, Scott J. Smith, Gonglu Tian, Yaru Shi
  • Patent number: 7977530
    Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles that include absorbent compositions which exhibit swelling, deswelling, and reswelling behavior. More specifically, absorbent compositions of this invention swell and absorb fluids after exposure to aqueous fluids, deswell and release fluids from the swollen absorbent compositions, and can also reswell and absorb fluids. The swelling-deswelling-reswelling behavior allows enhanced liquid distribution in absorbent composites and absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard N. Dodge, II, Jian Qin, Scott J. Smith, Gonglu Tian, Yaru Shi
  • Patent number: 7935860
    Abstract: An absorbent article can have a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. In some aspects, at least one of the topsheet, backsheet, and absorbent core is stretchable. In other aspects, the absorbent core can comprise layers, at least one of which includes substantially the superabsorbent material only and at least one of which includes substantially fluff only. In some aspects, the article includes superabsorbent material having a surface additive that includes a surface crosslinking agent, a water-insoluble inorganic metal compound and a polymeric coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard N. Dodge, II, Tammy J. Nettekoven, Scott J. Smith, Stan McIntosh, David L. Bergman, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090192481
    Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles that include absorbent compositions which exhibit swelling, deswelling, and reswelling behavior. More specifically, absorbent compositions of this invention swell and absorb fluids after exposure to aqueous fluids, deswell and release fluids from the swollen absorbent compositions, and can also reswell and absorb fluids. The swelling-deswelling-reswelling behavior allows enhanced liquid distribution in absorbent composites and absorbent articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Richard N. Dodge, II, Jian Qin, Scott J. Smith, Gonglu Tian, Yaru Shi
  • Publication number: 20090192482
    Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles that include absorbent compositions which exhibit swelling, deswelling, and reswelling behavior. More specifically, absorbent compositions of this invention swell and absorb fluids after exposure to aqueous fluids, deswell and release fluids from the swollen absorbent compositions, and can also reswell and absorb fluids. The swelling-deswelling-reswelling behavior allows enhanced liquid distribution in absorbent composites and absorbent articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Richard N. Dodge, II, Jian Qin, Scott J. Smith, Gonglu Tian, Yaru Shi
  • Patent number: 7373284
    Abstract: In a method of evaluating a product worn on a body, a computer based body sub-model of at least a portion of the body is created. A computer based product sub-model of the product is created, at least one parameter of which is variable as a function of fluid loading of the product. A computer based interaction model is also created to define instructions as to how the body sub-model and the product sub-model interact and to further define instructions corresponding to a fluid loading of the product. The body sub-model, the product sub-model and the interaction model are combined in a use model to simulate interaction between the body sub-model and the product sub-model in response to fluid loading of the product. The use model is evaluated to determine the performance of at least one product feature of the product in response to fluid loading of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sara Jane W. Stabelfeldt, Yung H. Huang, Christopher M. Pieper, Richard N. Dodge, II, David L. Zenker, Ellen S. Green
  • Patent number: 5160746
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus of the type for forming a nonwoven web from a fiber forming thermoplastic polymer resin which includes a reservoir for supplying a quantity of melted fiber forming thermoplastic resin, a pump for pumping the molten resin to a fiber forming die, and a die for forming a discrete resin stream to flow therefrom. The die includes a first fluid passageway for forming a stream of fluid, such as air, in contact with and substantially surrounding the formed flow of resin for a predetermined distance within the die and a fluid interrupt system for selectively cycling the flow of resin on and off and clearing the resin from the fiber forming die. A receiving belt collects the fibers formed from the resin flow beyond the first fluid passageway spaced at a predetermined distance from the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Richard N. Dodge, II, Ann L. Wagner, Larry C. Fowler, Martin A. Allen, John T. Fetcko, III