Patents by Inventor Stephen J. McCullough

Stephen J. McCullough 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: 9388534
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface utilizing a polymeric creping belt having perforations. The web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web including a plurality of fiber-enriched hollow domed regions protruding from an upper surface of the web, the hollow domed regions having sidewalls being formed along at least a leading edge of the web. Connecting regions form a network interconnecting the hollow domed regions. Transition areas include fibers that transition from the connecting regions into the hollow domed regions, by extending upwardly from the connecting regions into the sidewalls of the domed regions. The web is dried to produce the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 9371615
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a nascent web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is fabric creped from the transfer surface utilizing a patterned creping fabric. The fabric creping step occurs under pressure in a fabric creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping fabric. The creping fabric contacts the transfer surface and applies pressure to the web against the transfer surface such that the fibers of the web are redistributed on the creping fabric to form a web with a drawable reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Frank C. Murray
  • Patent number: 9279219
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet having a variable local basis weight. The sheet includes a papermaking-fiber reticulum having a plurality of fiber-enriched pileated regions of a relatively high local basis weight each extending a distance in a cross-machine direction (CD) of the sheet, and a plurality of elongated densified regions that interconnect the plurality of fiber-enriched pileated regions. The elongated densified regions (i) have a relatively low local basis weight, and each extending a distance in a machine direction (MD) of the sheet, and (ii) are arranged in a repeating pattern having leading and trailing edges, such that the elongated densified regions are longitudinally staggered with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper
  • Publication number: 20150152603
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface utilizing a polymeric creping belt having perforations. The web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web including a plurality of fiber-enriched hollow domed regions protruding from an upper surface of the web, the hollow domed regions having sidewalls being formed along at least a leading edge of the web. Connecting regions form a network interconnecting the hollow domed regions. Transition areas include fibers that transition from the connecting regions into the hollow domed regions, by extending upwardly from the connecting regions into the sidewalls of the domed regions. The web is dried to produce the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Publication number: 20150129144
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a nascent web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is fabric creped from the transfer surface utilizing a patterned creping fabric. The fabric creping step occurs under pressure in a fabric creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping fabric. The creping fabric contacts the transfer surface and applies pressure to the web against the transfer surface such that the fibers of the web are redistributed on the creping fabric to form a web with a drawable reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Frank C. Murray
  • Patent number: 9017517
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt provided with a plurality of perforations through the belt, the belt-creping step occurring under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt travels at a belt speed that is slower than the transfer surface speed, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web. The web includes hollow domed regions, connecting regions, and transition areas. The web is dried to produce the belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8980052
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a nascent web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is fabric creped from the transfer surface utilizing a patterned creping fabric. The fabric creping step occurs under pressure in a fabric creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping fabric. The creping fabric travels at a fabric speed that is slower than the transfer surface speed. The creping fabric contacts the transfer surface and applies pressure to the web against the transfer surface such that the fibers of the web are redistributed on the creping fabric to form a web with a drawable reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Frank C. Murray
  • Publication number: 20150068695
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet having a variable local basis weight. The sheet includes a papermaking-fiber reticulum having a plurality of fiber-enriched pileated regions of a relatively high local basis weight each extending a distance in a cross-machine direction (CD) of the sheet, and a plurality of elongated densified regions that interconnect the plurality of fiber-enriched pileated regions. The elongated densified regions (i) have a relatively low local basis weight, and each extending a distance in a machine direction (MD) of the sheet, and (ii) are arranged in a repeating pattern having leading and trailing edges, such that the elongated densified regions are longitudinally staggered with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper
  • Patent number: 8968516
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet that has an upper surface and a lower surface. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface. The web is belt creped from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60% utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt is traveling at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8911592
    Abstract: A multi-ply absorbent sheet of cellulosic fiber includes continuous outer surfaces, and an absorbent core between the outer surfaces. The absorbent core includes a non-woven fiber network comprising a plurality of pileated fiber enriched regions of a relatively high local basis weight interconnected by way of a plurality of lower local basis weight linking regions whose fiber orientation is biased along the direction between pileated fiber enriched regions, interconnected thereby, and a plurality of fiber-deprived cellules between the fiber enriched regions and the linking regions, also being characterized by a local basis weight lower than that of the fiber enriched regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper
  • Publication number: 20140352901
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt provided with a plurality of perforations through the belt, the belt-creping step occurring under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt travels at a belt speed that is slower than the transfer surface speed, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web. The web includes hollow domed regions, connecting regions, and transition areas. The web is dried to produce the belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8852397
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. The method includes compactively dewatering a papermaking furnish to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer. The web from the transfer surface is belt-creped at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60%, utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt travels at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Publication number: 20140238627
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a nascent web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is fabric creped from the transfer surface utilizing a patterned creping fabric. The fabric creping step occurs under pressure in a fabric creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping fabric. The creping fabric travels at a fabric speed that is slower than the transfer surface speed. The creping fabric contacts the transfer surface and applies pressure to the web against the transfer surface such that the fibers of the web are redistributed on the creping fabric to form a web with a drawable reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Frank C. Murray
  • Patent number: 8778138
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet includes a papermaking-fiber reticulum. The papermaking-fiber reticulum includes a plurality of fiber-enriched regions that are oriented in a cross-machine direction (CD) of the sheet. The fiber-enriched regions have (i) a local basis weight and (ii) papermaking fibers that are oriented in the CD of the sheet. The papermaking-fiber reticulum also includes a plurality of linking regions that link corresponding ones of the fiber-enriched regions together in linking directions, the linking regions having (i) basis weights that are lower than those of the corresponding ones of the fiber-enriched regions and (ii) papermaking fibers that are oriented in the linking directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Frank C. Murray
  • Patent number: 8673115
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet includes forming a nascent web from a papermaking furnish, the nascent web having a generally random distribution of papermaking fiber, transferring the nascent web having the generally random distribution of papermaking fiber to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed, drying the web, to a consistency of from about 30 to about 60 percent, including compactively dewatering the web prior to or concurrently with transfer of the web to the transfer surface, fabric-creping the web from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30 to about 60 percent utilizing a creping fabric with a patterned creping surface, the fabric-creping step occurring under pressure in a fabric creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping fabric, the web being creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper
  • Patent number: 8652300
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A paper making furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60% utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations, under pressure, in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt travels at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface. The web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights. The web is then dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8636874
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet includes (i) a plurality of fiber-enriched pileated regions having fibers that are oriented in a direction transverse to a machine direction (MD) of the sheet, and (ii) a plurality of linking regions that link the fiber-enriched regions together. The linking regions have fibers that have an orientation that is offset from the orientation of the fibers in the plurality of fiber-enriched pileated regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Frank C. Murray
  • Publication number: 20130327489
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet that has an upper surface and a lower surface. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface. The web is belt creped from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60% utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt is traveling at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Publication number: 20130327488
    Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. The method includes compactively dewatering a papermaking furnish to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer. The web from the transfer surface is belt-creped at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60% utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt travels at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Guy H. Super, Paul J. Ruthven, Stephen J. McCullough, Daniel H. Sze, Greg A. Wendt, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8603296
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet with improved dispensing characteristics. The method includes compactively dewatering a papermaking furnish to form a nascent web, applying the nascent web to a translating transfer surface, fabric-creping the web from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30 to about 60 percent utilizing a patterned creping fabric, the fabric-creping step occurring under pressure in a fabric creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping fabric, wherein the fabric is traveling at a fabric speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface, the web being creped from the transfer surface and transferred to the creping fabric, adhering the web to a drying cylinder with a resinous adhesive coating composition, drying the web on the drying cylinder to form a dried web, and peeling the dried web from the drying cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper