Patents by Inventor Steven L. Edwards

Steven L. Edwards 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: 20090159223
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet having variable local basis weight includes a papermaking-fiber reticulum provided with (i) a plurality of cross-machine direction (CD) extending, fiber-enriched pileated regions of relatively high local basis weight interconnected by (ii) a plurality of elongated densified regions of compressed papermaking fibers. The elongated densified regions have relatively low local basis weight and are generally oriented along the machine direction (MD) of the sheet and have an MD/CD aspect ratio of at least 1.5. The products are most preferably prepared by way of a compactive dewatering/wet crepe process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: 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: 20090120598
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet having variable local basis weight includes a papermaking-fiber reticulum provided with (i) a plurality of cross-machine direction (CD) extending, fiber-enriched pileated regions of relatively high local basis weight interconnected by (ii) a plurality of elongated densified regions of compressed papermaking fibers. The elongated densified regions have relatively low local basis weight and are generally oriented along the machine direction (MD) of the sheet and have an MD/CD aspect ratio of at least 1.5. The products are most preferably prepared by way of a compactive dewatering/wet crepe process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    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: 7494563
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet having variable local basis weight includes a papermaking-fiber reticulum provided with (i) a plurality of cross-machine direction (CD) extending, fiber-enriched pileated regions of relatively high local basis weight interconnected by (ii) a plurality of elongated densified regions of compressed papermaking fibers. The elongated densified regions have relatively low local basis weight and are generally oriented along the machine direction (MD) of the sheet and have an MD/CD aspect ratio of at least 1.5. The products are most preferably prepared by way of a compactive dewatering/wet crepe process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    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: 20090038768
    Abstract: A method of making a cellulosic web includes: forming a nascent web from a papermaking furnish, the nascent web having a generally random distribution of papermaking fiber; b) transferring the web having a generally random distribution of papermaking fiber to a translating transfer surface moving at a first 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 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 wherein the fabric is traveling at a second speed slower than the speed of said transfer surface, the fabric pattern, nip parameters, velocity delta and web consistency being selected such that the web is creped from the transfer surfac
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Frank C. Murray, Greg A. Wendt, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Guy H. Super
  • Patent number: 7442278
    Abstract: A method of making a cellulosic web includes: forming a nascent web from a papermaking furnish, the nascent web having a generally random distribution of papermaking fiber; b) transferring the web having a generally random distribution of papermaking fiber to a translating transfer surface moving at a first 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 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 wherein the fabric is traveling at a second speed slower than the speed of said transfer surface, the fabric pattern, nip parameters, velocity delta and web consistency being selected such that the web is creped from the transfer surfac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Frank C. Murray, Greg A. Wendt, Steven L. Edwards, Stephen J. McCullough, Guy H. Super
  • Publication number: 20080245492
    Abstract: A process for making absorbent cellulosic paper products such as sheet for towel, tissue and the like, includes compactively dewatering a nascent web followed by wet belt creping the web at an intermediate consistency of anywhere from about 30 to about 60 percent under conditions operative to redistribute the fiber on the belt, which is preferably a fabric. In preferred embodiments, the web is thereafter adhesively applied to a Yankee dryer using a creping adhesive operative to enable high speed transfer of the web of intermediate consistency such as a poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyamide adhesive. An absorbent sheet so prepared from a papermaking furnish exhibits an absorbency of at least about 5 g/g, a CD stretch of at least about 4 percent, and an MD/CD tensile ratio of less than about 1.1, and also exhibits a maximum CD modulus at a CD strain of less than 1 percent and sustains a CD modulus of at least 50 percent of its maximum CD modulus to a CD strain of at least about 4 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Dean J. Baumgartner, Richard W. Eggen, David P. Duggan, Jeffrey E. Krueger, David W. Lomax, Colin A. Jones
  • Publication number: 20080236772
    Abstract: A process for making absorbent cellulosic paper products such as sheet for towel, tissue and the like, includes compactively dewatering a nascent web followed by wet belt creping the web at an intermediate consistency of anywhere from about 30 to about 60 percent under conditions operative to redistribute the fiber on the belt, which is preferably a fabric. In preferred embodiments, the web is thereafter adhesively applied to a Yankee dryer using a creping adhesive operative to enable high speed transfer of the web of intermediate consistency such as a poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyamide adhesive. An absorbent sheet so prepared from a papermaking furnish exhibits an absorbency of at least about 5 g/g, a CD stretch of at least about 4 percent, and an MD/CD tensile ratio of less than about 1.1, and also exhibits a maximum CD modulus at a CD strain of less than 1 percent and sustains a CD modulus of at least 50 percent of its maximum CD modulus to a CD strain of at least about 4 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Dean J. Baumgartner, Richard W. Eggen, David P. Duggan, Jeffrey E. Krueger, David W. Lomax, Colin A. Jones
  • Patent number: 7399378
    Abstract: A process for making absorbent cellulosic paper products such as sheet for towel, tissue and the like, includes compactively dewatering a nascent web followed by wet belt creping the web at an intermediate consistency of anywhere from about 30 to about 60 percent under conditions operative to redistribute the fiber on the belt, which is preferably a fabric. In preferred embodiments, the web is thereafter adhesively applied to a Yankee dryer using a creping adhesive operative to enable high speed transfer of the web of intermediate consistency such as a poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyamide adhesive. An absorbent sheet so prepared from a papermaking furnish exhibits an absorbency of at least about 5 g/g, a CD stretch of at least about 4 percent, and an MD/CD tensile ratio of less than about 1.1, and also exhibits a maximum CD modulus at a CD strain of less than 1 percent and sustains a CD modulus of at least 50 percent of its maximum CD modulus to a CD strain of at least about 4 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Dean J. Baumgartner, Richard W. Eggen, David P. Duggan, Jeffrey E. Krueger, David W. Lomax, Colin A. Jones
  • Publication number: 20080083519
    Abstract: A method of making absorbent cellulosic sheet with increased wet/dry CD tensile ratio includes treating the fiber at high consistency with debonder in a pulper, for example. The process enables the use of large amounts of debonder in a wet-press process in order to achieve wet/dry CD tensile ratios of greater than 30%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: GEORGIA-PACIFIC CONSUMER PRODUCTS LP
    Inventors: Bruce J. Kokko, Steven L. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7300547
    Abstract: An absorbent paper sheet is treated with an aqueous wax dispersion such that the sheet includes a fused wax and emulsifier residue in an amount of from about 1 to about 20 weight percent of the sheet based on the combined weight of the fiber, wax residue and an emulsifier residue in the sheet. The fused wax emulsion operates to make at least one surface of the sheet laterally hydrophobic, exhibiting a moisture penetration delay of at least about 2 seconds and less than about 40 seconds as well as a typical contact angle with water at one minute of at least about 50 degrees. There is thus provided absorbent products which exhibit both absorbency and resistance to moisture penetration. The treated sheet further exhibits microbial barrier properties, impeding transfer of bacteria, for example, through the sheet. There are produced tissue products which resist moisture penetration from propelled liquids as well as sequester sorbed liquids in the interior of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Phuong V. Luu, Steven L. Edwards, David W. White, Brigitte K. Schauer, Martin A. Hynnek
  • Patent number: 7300552
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for maximizing water removal from an absorbent web in a press nip. The present invention uses a pressing unit having a blanket with a void volume and with a pressure profile that maximizes water removal in the press section or on the Yankee dryer of a paper machine. The pressure profile of the pressing unit according to the present invention has a very steep pressure drop at and/or following the exit of a pressure distribution curve in order to maximize water removal by minimizing rewet of the web. The improved pressure profile according to the present invention results in increased water removal and/or improved line speed. The void volume further increases water removal and/or improves line speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Robert J. Marinack, Jeffrey Charles McDowell, Gary L. Worry
  • Patent number: 7160418
    Abstract: An improved process for making sheet from a fibrous furnish includes: depositing the furnish on a foraminous support; compactively dewatering the furnish to form a nascent web; drying the web on a heated cylinder; creping the web therefrom and throughdrying the web to a finished product. The microstructure of the web is controlled so as to facilitate throughdrying. The product exhibits a characteristic throughdrying coefficient of from 4 to 10 when the airflow through the sheet is characterized by a Reynolds Number of less than about 1. The novel products of the invention are characterized by wet springback ratio, hydraulic diameter and an internal bond strength parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Greg A. Wendt, Robert J. Marinack, Michael J. Vander Wielen, Stephen J. McCullough, Jeffrey C. McDowell, Guy H. Super, Gary L. Worry
  • Publication number: 20040250969
    Abstract: An absorbent paper sheet is treated with an aqueous wax dispersion such that the sheet includes a fused wax and emulsifier residue in an amount of from about 1 to about 20 weight percent of the sheet based on the combined weight of the fiber, wax residue and an emulsifier residue in the sheet. The fused wax emulsion operates to make at least one surface of the sheet laterally hydrophobic, exhibiting a moisture penetration delay of at least about 2 seconds and less than about 40 seconds as well as a typical contact angle with water at one minute of at least about 50 degrees. There is thus provided absorbent products which exhibit both absorbency and resistance to moisture penetration. The treated sheet further exhibits microbial barrier properties, impeding transfer of bacteria, for example, through the sheet. There are produced tissue products which resist moisture penetration from propelled liquids as well as sequester sorbed liquids in the interior of the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Phuong V. Luu, Steven L. Edwards, David W. White, Brigitte K. Schauer, Martin A. Hynnek
  • Publication number: 20040238135
    Abstract: A process for making absorbent cellulosic paper products such as sheet for towel, tissue and the like, includes compactively dewatering a nascent web followed by wet belt creping the web at an intermediate consistency of anywhere from about 30 to about 60 percent under conditions operative to redistribute the fiber on the belt, which is preferably a fabric. In preferred embodiments, the web is thereafter adhesively applied to a Yankee dryer using a creping adhesive operative to enable high speed transfer of the web of intermediate consistency such as a poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyamide adhesive. An absorbent sheet so prepared from a papermaking furnish exhibits an absorbency of at least about 5 g/g, a CD stretch of at least about 4 percent, and an MD/CD tensile ratio of less than about 1.1, and also exhibits a maximum CD modulus at a CD strain of less than 1 percent and sustains a CD modulus of at least 50 percent of its maximum CD modulus to a CD strain of at least about 4 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Dean J. Baumgartner, Richard W. Eggen, David P. Duggan, Jeffrey E. Krueger, David W. Lomax, Colin A. Jones
  • Patent number: 6824648
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of making a near-premium quality paper product having good strength and absorbency characteristics and a product made by that method. The invention is also a method for retaining a high ash content within a paper web formed by conventional wet pressing. The present invention is also a method for retaining a high percentage of softening agent within a paper web that includes such an agent. Further, the present invention is a soft absorbent paper product having a high void volume. Finally, the invention is also a method for producing a soft, absorbent, and near premium paper product having a high void volume using an undulatory crepe blade having a multiplicity of serrulations in its rake surface which presents differentiated creping angles and/or rake angles as to the paper being creped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, David W. White, Frank D. Harper, John H. Dwiggins
  • Publication number: 20040226673
    Abstract: An improved process for making sheet from a fibrous furnish includes: depositing the furnish on a foraminous support; compactively dewatering the furnish to form a nascent web; drying the web on a heated cylinder; creping the web therefrom and throughdrying the web to a finished product. The microstructure of the web is controlled so as to facilitate throughdrying. The product exhibits a characteristic throughdrying coefficient of from 4 to 10 when the airflow through the sheet is characterized by a Reynolds Number of less than about 1. The novel products of the invention are characterized by wet springback ratio, hydraulic diameter and an internal bond strength parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Greg A. Wendt, Robert J. Marinack, Michael J. Vander Wielen, Stephen J. McCullough, Jeffrey C. McDowell, Guy H. Super, Gary L. Worry
  • Patent number: 6752907
    Abstract: An improved process for making sheet from a fibrous furnish includes: depositing the furnish on a foraminous support; compactively dewatering the furnish to form a nascent web; drying the web on a heated cylinder; creping the web therefrom and throughdrying the web to a finished product. The microstructure of the web is controlled so as to facilitate throughdrying. The product exhibits a characteristic throughdrying coefficient of from 4 to 10 when the airflow through the sheet is characterized by a Reynolds Number of less than about 1. The novel products of the invention are characterized by wet springback ratio, hydraulic diameter and an internal bond strength parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Greg A. Wendt, Robert J. Marinack, Michael J. Vander Wielen, Stephen J. McCullough, Jeffrey C. McDowell, Guy H. Super, Gary L. Worry
  • Patent number: 6669821
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for maximizing water removal from an absorbent web in a press nip. The present invention uses a pressing unit having a blanket with a void volume and with a pressure profile that maximizes water removal in the press section or on the Yankee dryer of a paper machine. The pressure profile of the pressing unit according to the present invention has a very steep pressure drop at and/or following the exit of a pressure distribution curve in order to maximize water removal by minimizing rewet of the web. The improved pressure profile according to the present invention results in increased water removal and/or improved line speed. The void volume further increases water removal and/or improves line speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Robert J. Marinack, Jeffrey Charles McDowell, Gary L. Worry
  • Publication number: 20030226650
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for maximizing water removal from an absorbent web in a press nip. The present invention uses a pressing unit having a blanket with a void volume and with a pressure profile that maximizes water removal in the press section or on the Yankee dryer of a paper machine. The pressure profile of the pressing unit according to the present invention has a very steep pressure drop at and/or following the exit of a pressure distribution curve in order to maximize water removal by minimizing rewet of the web. The improved pressure profile according to the present invention results in increased water removal and/or improved line speed. The void volume further increases water removal and/or improves line speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Robert J. Marinack, Jeffrey Charles McDowell, Gary L. Worry
  • Publication number: 20030136531
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of making a near-premium quality paper product having good strength and absorbency characteristics and a product made by that method. The invention is also a method for retaining a high ash content within a paper web formed by conventional wet pressing. The present invention is also a method for retaining a high percentage of softening agent within a paper web that includes such an agent. Further, the present invention is a soft absorbent paper product having a high void volume. Finally, the invention is also a method for producing a soft, absorbent, and near premium paper product having a high void volume using an undulatory crepe blade having a multiplicity of serrulations in its rake surface which presents differentiated creping angles and/or rake angles as to the paper being creped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, David W. White, Frank D. Harper, John H. Dwiggins