Patents by Inventor Stephen Michael Lindsay

Stephen Michael Lindsay 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: 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
  • 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: 11383480
    Abstract: A substrate has an elastomeric film having surfaces and a nonwoven web having fibers, wherein a plurality of fibers is partially embedded in one surface of the film. In addition, a substrate has an elastomeric film and a nonwoven web having fibers, wherein a plurality of fibers is partially embedded in one surface of the film, and wherein the substrate is essentially free of adhesives and film-based microfibers. A method for making a film/nonwoven composite includes providing an elastomeric film traveling in a machine direction; providing a nonwoven web traveling in the machine direction in face-to-face contact with the film, wherein the nonwoven web includes fibers; and impinging the elastomeric film with hydro jets such that at least some of the fibers become embedded in the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaiyuan Yang, Carl Gerard Rippl, Peiguang Zhou, Yiming Weng, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, James Benjamin Harvey, Joel Brostin
  • 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
  • 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: 11035081
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue webs and products that are manufactured by non-compressive dewatering and/or drying methods, such as through-air drying, where the webs and products comprise cross-linked fiber. The non-compressively dewatered tissue webs and products have improved sheet bulk and z-direction properties. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides through-air dried tissue products having good sheet bulk and resiliency, such as a sheet bulk greater than about 15 cc/g and Compression Energy (E) greater than about 1.30 N/m. Surprisingly the foregoing products have sufficient strength to withstand use, such as a GMT greater than about 600 g/3?, but are not overly stiff, generally having a Stiffness Index less than about 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick, Christopher Lee Satori, Donald Eugene Waldroup
  • Publication number: 20210054532
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for manufacturing cross-linked cellulosic fibers and tissue products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers, manufactured by reacting an oxidized polyol, in particular, an oxidized sugar having at least two aldehyde groups with a plurality of cellulosic fibers to yield treated fibers and heating the treated fibers at a temperature greater than about 140° C. to cure the treated fibers. In particular, said sugar is sucrose and the oxidising agent comprises hydrogen peroxide. The instant cross-linked fibers are manufactured without well-known cross-linking agents such as formaldehyde or polycarboxylic acids, and have good brightness and color and resist yellowing. Furthermore, the cross-linked cellulosic fibers are generally free from off odors and the instant cross-linked cellulosic fibers have enhanced properties, such as improved wet bulk, compared to uncross-linked fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20210054572
    Abstract: The invention provides fibrous structures, such as tissue products, manufactured using non-compressive dewatering and drying methods, such as through-air drying, where the structures are multi-layered and have cross-linked fibers selectively disposed in one or more outer most layers. Compared to similarly prepared fibrous structures that are substantially free from cross-linked fibers the instant fibrous structures have improved surface properties, such as good softness and smoothness, as well as improved bulk. Further, by layering the cross-linked fibers and manufacturing the fibrous structures without compressive dewatering the tensile strength of the finished structure is not degraded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 10753046
    Abstract: The disclosure provides tissue webs and products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers. In certain embodiments cross-linked cellulosic fibers are selectively disposed in one or more layers of a multi-layered tissue, wherein the tissue layer comprising cross-linked fibers is adjacent to a layer which is substantially free from cross-linked fiber. The cross-linked fibers may include hardwood kraft fibers reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of DMDHU, DMDHEU, DMU, DHEU, DMEU, and DMeDHEU. Tissue products and webs produced in this manner generally have improved sheet bulk, without losses in strength, compared to similar tissue products produced without cross-linked cellulosic fibers. As such the tissue products of the present invention generally have a basis weight from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g and geometric mean tensile from about 730 to about 1,500 g/3?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Christopher Lee Satori, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Kenneth John Zwick
  • Publication number: 20200240086
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue webs and products that are manufactured by non-compressive dewatering and/or drying methods, such as through-air drying, where the webs and products comprise cross-linked fiber. The non-compressively dewatered tissue webs and products have improved sheet bulk and z-direction properties. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides through-air dried tissue products having good sheet bulk and resiliency, such as a sheet bulk greater than about 15 cc/g and Compression Energy (E) greater than about 1.30 N/m. Surprisingly the foregoing products have sufficient strength to withstand use, such as a GMT greater than about 600 g/3?, but are not overly stiff, generally having a Stiffness Index less than about 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick, Christopher Lee Satori, Donald Eugene Waldroup
  • Patent number: 10487454
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue webs and products that are manufactured by non-compressive dewatering and/or drying methods, such as through-air drying, where the webs and products comprise cross-linked fiber. The non-compressively dewatered tissue webs and products have improved sheet bulk and z-direction properties. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides through-air dried tissue products having good sheet bulk and resiliency, such as a sheet bulk greater than about 12 cc/g and Compression Energy (E) greater than about 1.30 N/m. Surprisingly the foregoing products have sufficient strength to withstand use, such as a GMT greater than about 1,200 g/3?, but are not overly stiff, generally having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick, Christopher Lee Satori, Donald Eugene Waldroup
  • Patent number: 10458067
    Abstract: The present application relates to a cross-linked fiber and more specifically to fibers that have been subjected to cold caustic extraction (at less than 60° C.) to reduce the hemicellulose content of the fibers by at least 50% and then cross-linked with a cross-linking agent that is curable at a modest temperature, such as less than 160° C. The treated cross-linked fibers preferably have a hemicellulose content that is less than 5% by weight of the fiber. Preferable cross-linking agents are polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins, polyamide-polyamine-epichlorohydrin (PPE) resins, and polydiallylamine-epichlorohydrin resins. The cross-linked fibers are readily dispersible in water even without fiberization and generally form webs and products having relatively few knits or knots. As such, the cross-linked fibers of the present invention are well suited for use in the manufacture of tissue webs and products, particularly wet-laid tissue webs and products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Mike Thomas Goulet, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Stephen Michael Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20190309482
    Abstract: The disclosure provides tissue webs and products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers. In certain embodiments cross-linked cellulosic fibers are selectively disposed in one or more layers of a multi-layered tissue, wherein the tissue layer comprising cross-linked fibers is adjacent to a layer which is substantially free from cross-linked fiber. The cross-linked fibers may include hardwood kraft fibers reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of DMDHU, DMDHEU, DMU, DHEU, DMEU, and DMeDHEU. Tissue products and webs produced in this manner generally have improved sheet bulk, without losses in strength, compared to similar tissue products produced without cross-linked cellulosic fibers. As such the tissue products of the present invention generally have a basis weight from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g and geometric mean tensile from about 730 to about 1,500 g/3?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Christopher Lee Satori, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Kenneth John Zwick
  • Patent number: 10385516
    Abstract: The disclosure provides tissue webs and products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers. In certain embodiments cross-linked cellulosic fibers are selectively disposed in one or more layers of a multi-layered tissue, wherein the tissue layer comprising cross-linked fibers is adjacent to a layer which is substantially free from cross-linked fiber. The cross-linked fibers may include hardwood kraft fibers reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of DMDHU, DMDHEU, DMU, DHEU, DMEU, and DMeDHEU. Tissue products and webs produced in this manner generally have improved sheet bulk, without losses in strength, compared to similar tissue products produced without cross-linked cellulosic fibers. As such the tissue products of the present invention generally have a basis weight from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g and geometric mean tensile from about 730 to about 1,500 g/3?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Christopher Lee Satori, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Kenneth John Zwick
  • Publication number: 20190226147
    Abstract: The present application relates to a cross-linked fiber and more specifically to fibers that have been subjected to cold caustic extraction (at less than 60° C.) to reduce the hemicellulose content of the fibers by at least 50% and then cross-linked with a cross-linking agent that is curable at a modest temperature, such as less than 160° C. The treated cross-linked fibers preferably have a hemicellulose content that is less than 5% by weight of the fiber. Preferable cross-linking agents are polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins, polyamide-polyamine-epichlorohydrin (PPE) resins, and polydiallylamine-epichlorohydrin resins. The cross-linked fibers are readily dispersible in water even without fiberization and generally form webs and products having relatively few knits or knots. As such, the cross-linked fibers of the present invention are well suited for use in the manufacture of tissue webs and products, particularly wet-laid tissue webs and products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Mike Thomas Goulet, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Stephen Michael Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20190136457
    Abstract: The present invention provides tissue webs and products that are manufactured by non-compressive dewatering and/or drying methods, such as through-air drying, where the webs and products comprise cross-linked fiber. The non-compressively dewatered tissue webs and products have improved sheet bulk and z-direction properties. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides through-air dried tissue products having good sheet bulk and resiliency, such as a sheet bulk greater than about 12 cc/g and Compression Energy (E) greater than about 1.30 N/m. Surprisingly the foregoing products have sufficient strength to withstand use, such as a GMT greater than about 1,200 g/3?, but are not overly stiff, generally having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Mike Thomas Goulet, Kenneth John Zwick, Christopher Lee Satori, Donald Eugene Waldroup
  • Publication number: 20180056624
    Abstract: A substrate has an elastomeric film having surfaces and a nonwoven web having fibers, wherein a plurality of fibers is partially embedded in one surface of the film. In addition, a substrate has an elastomeric film and a nonwoven web having fibers, wherein a plurality of fibers is partially embedded in one surface of the film, and wherein the substrate is essentially free of adhesives and film-based microfibers. A method for making a film/nonwoven composite includes providing an elastomeric film traveling in a machine direction; providing a nonwoven web traveling in the machine direction in face-to-face contact with the film, wherein the nonwoven web includes fibers; and impinging the elastomeric film with hydro jets such that at least some of the fibers become embedded in the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Kaiyuan Yang, Carl Gerard Rippl, Peiguang Zhou, Yiming Weng, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, James Benjamin Harvey, Joel Brostin
  • Publication number: 20180016749
    Abstract: The disclosure provides tissue webs and products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers. In certain embodiments cross-linked cellulosic fibers are selectively disposed in one or more layers of a multi-layered tissue, wherein the tissue layer comprising cross-linked fibers is adjacent to a layer which is substantially free from cross-linked fiber. The cross-linked fibers may include hardwood kraft fibers reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of DMDHU, DMDHEU, DMU, DHEU, DMEU, and DMeDHEU. Tissue products and webs produced in this manner generally have improved sheet bulk, without losses in strength, compared to similar tissue products produced without cross-linked cellulosic fibers. As such the tissue products of the present invention generally have a basis weight from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater from about 8.0 to about 12.0 cc/g and geometric mean tensile from about 730 to about 1,500 g/3?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Stephen Michael Lindsay, Christopher Lee Satori, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Kenneth John Zwick
  • Patent number: 9416494
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modified cellulosic fiber having reduced hydrogen bonding capabilities. The modified fiber formed in accordance with the present invention may be useful in the production of tissue products having improved bulk and softness. More importantly, the modified fiber is adaptable to current tissue making processes and may be incorporated into a tissue product to improve bulk and softness without an unsatisfactory reduction in tensile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Jian Qin
  • Patent number: 9410292
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a multilayered tissue web comprising treated cellulosic fibers selectively disposed in one or more layers, wherein the tissue layer comprising treated fibers is adjacent to a layer comprising untreated fiber and which is substantially free from untreated fiber. Generally the treated fibers have a rate of substitution of about 0.02 to 0.07. In this manner, the disclosure provides a multi-layered tissue web having treated fiber selectively incorporated therein, where the tissue web has basis weight greater than about 10 grams per square meter (gsm), such as from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater than about 8 cc/g, such as from about 8 to about 15 cc/g and Stiffness Index less than about 15, such as from about 8 to about 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Jian Qin, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Deborah Joy Calewarts, Kenneth John Zwick