Patents by Inventor Steven Michael Hurley

Steven Michael Hurley 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: 10596042
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Steven Michael Hurley, Donald LeRoy Smith, Kendell Jean Williams, Nicholas Alan Kraft, Johanna Marie Buss, David John Paulson, Thomas Gerard Vercauteren, Sara Lynn Rosack, James George Van Himbergen
  • Patent number: 10548782
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Steven Michael Hurley, Donald LeRoy Smith, Kendell Jean Williams, Nicholas Alan Kraft, Johanna Marie Buss, David John Paulson, Thomas Gerard Vercauteren, Sara Lynn Rosack, James George Van Himbergen
  • Publication number: 20180185200
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Steven Michael Hurley, Donald LeRoy Smith, Kendell Jean Williams, Nicholas Alan Kraft, Johanna Marie Buss, David John Paulson, Thomas Gerard Vercauteren, Sara Lynn Rosack, James George Van Himbergen
  • Publication number: 20180021188
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Steven Michael Hurley, Donald LeRoy Smith, Kendell Jean Williams, Nicholas Alan Kraft, Johanna Marie Buss, David John Paulson, Thomas Gerard Vercauteren, Sara Lynn Rosack, James George Van Himbergen
  • Patent number: 9808381
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Steven Michael Hurley, Donald LeRoy Smith, Kendell Jean Williams, Nicholas Alan Kraft, Johanna Marie Buss, David John Paulson, Thomas Gerard Vercauteren, Sara Lynn Rosack, James George Van Himbergen
  • Publication number: 20170143562
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Steven Michael Hurley, Donald LeRoy Smith, Kendell Jean Williams, Nicholas Alan Kraft, Johanna Marie Buss, David John Paulson, Thomas Gerard Vercauteren, Sara Lynn Rosack, James George Van Himbergen
  • Patent number: 9572729
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Steven Michael Hurley, Donald LeRoy Smith, Kendell Jean Williams, Nicholas Alan Kraft, Johanna Marie Buss, David John Paulson, Thomas Gerard Vercauteren, Sara Lynn Rosack, James George Van Himbergen
  • Patent number: 9421504
    Abstract: An ultrasonic mixing system having a treatment chamber in which at least two separate phases can be mixed to prepare an emulsion is disclosed. The treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which the phases flow longitudinally from a first inlet port and a second inlet port, respectively, to an outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the phases within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Eugene Kieffer, Corey Thomas Cunningham, Steven Michael Hurley, Scott W. Wenzel, Shiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20150094682
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Fell, Steven Michael Hurley, Donald LeRoy Smith, Kendell Jean Williams, Nicholas Alan Kraft, Johanna Marie Buss, David John Paulson, Thomas Gerard Vercauteren, Sara Lynn Rosack, James George Van Himbergen
  • Publication number: 20140173841
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to wet wipes including a fibrous substrate, a cationic binder composition, and a wetting composition. The wetting composition includes at least one polyprotic acid having three or more functional groups and benzoic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Hurley, William Clayton Bunyard, YoonHee Cho, WanDuk Lee
  • Patent number: 8367568
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to wet wipes having liquid wipe compositions that including an organopolysiloxane that reduces sheet-to-sheet adhesion, improves the stack height, increases flexibility and maintains strength in the wet wipe. The liquid wipe compositions include an organopolysiloxane having the following structure: wherein p+q=1 to 2000, R1 is independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group or hydroxyl group, and R2 and R3 are independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group, a hydroxyl group, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in amine, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyether, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in quaternary, and a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyampholyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Oriel Bradley, Troy Michael Runge, Steven Michael Hurley, Christopher James Uecker, Corey Thomas Cunningham, Nathan John Vogel, Timothy James Van Himbergen, William Clayton Bunyard, Dave Allen Soerens
  • Publication number: 20110312236
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to wet wipes having liquid wipe compositions that including an organopolysiloxane that reduces sheet-to-sheet adhesion, improves the stack height, increases flexibility and maintains strength in the wet wipe. The liquid wipe compositions include an organopolysiloxane having the following structure: wherein p+q=0 to 2000, R1 is independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group or hydroxyl group, and R2 and R3 are independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group, a hydroxyl group, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in amine, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyether, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in quaternary, and a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyampholyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Elizabeth Oriel Bradley, Troy Michael Runge, Steven Michael Hurley, Christopher James Uecker, Corey Thomas Cunningham, Nathan John Vogel, Timothy James Van Himbergen, William Clayton Bunyard, Dave Allen Soerens
  • Patent number: 8030226
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to wet wipes having liquid wipe compositions that including an anti-adhesion component that reduces sheet-to-sheet adhesion, improves the stack height, increases flexibility and maintains strength in the wet wipe. The liquid wipe compositions include an organopolysiloxane having the following structure: wherein p+q=0 to 2000, R1 is independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group or hydroxyl group, and R2 and R3 are independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group, a hydroxyl group, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in amine, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyether, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in quaternary, and a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyampholyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Oriel Bradley, Troy Michael Runge, Steven Michael Hurley, Christopher James Uecker, Corey Thomas Cunningham, Nathan John Vogel, Timothy James Van Himbergen, William Clayton Bunyard, Dave Allen Soerens
  • Patent number: 8021998
    Abstract: An absorbent structure made at least in part from a superabsorbent material having a retention capacity (CRC) as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 25 g/g and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least 575×10?9 cm2. In another embodiment, the absorbent structure is made at least in part from a superabsorbent material having a retention capacity (CRC) as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 25 g/g, an absorbency under load (AUL) at 0.9 psi as determined by an Absorbency Under Load Test of at least 18 and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least about 350×10?9 cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Qin, Sandra Marie Rogers, Michael John Niemeyer, Kenneth Raymond Schueler, Jr., Steven Michael Hurley, Lawrence Howell Sawyer, Whei-Neen Hsu, Mark C. Joy, Scott J. Smith, Markus Frank, Nancy Birbiglia Lange
  • Patent number: 8010447
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operational risk in a data processing system comprises a risk domain segmenter for segmenting the data processing system into a plurality of risk domains, a domain risk threshold selector for selecting a domain risk threshold for at least one of the plurality of risk domains, a system element monitor operable to query the data processing system for an indication of presence of system elements, a risk quantizer for evaluating a system element for element risk and for computing the potential contribution of the element risk to a domain risk total, a risk threshold comparator for comparing the domain risk total with the domain risk threshold, and a domain assignor operable to assign the system element to a risk domain in dependency upon an output of the risk threshold comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Michael Hurley, Barry Douglas Whyte
  • Publication number: 20100261394
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to wet wipes having liquid wipe compositions that including an anti-adhesion component that reduces sheet-to-sheet adhesion, improves the stack height, increases flexibility and maintains strength in the wet wipe. The liquid wipe compositions include an organopolysiloxane having the following structure: wherein p+q=0 to 2000, R1 is independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group or hydroxyl group, and R2 and R3 are independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group, a hydroxyl group, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in amine, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyether, a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in quaternary, and a monovalent hydrocarbon group functional in polyampholyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Elizabeth Oriel Bradley, Troy Michael Runge, Steven Michael Hurley, Christopher James Uecker, Corey Thomas Cunningham, Nathan John Vogel, Timothy James Van Himbergen, William Clayton Bunyard, Dave Allen Soerens
  • Publication number: 20100261812
    Abstract: An absorbent structure made at least in part from a superabsorbent material having a retention capacity (CRC) as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 25 g/g and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least 575×10?9 cm2. In another embodiment, the absorbent structure is made at least in part from a superabsorbent material having a retention capacity (CRC) as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 25 g/g, an absorbency under load (AUL) at 0.9 psi as determined by an Absorbency Under Load Test of at least 18 and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least about 350×10?9 cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Jian Qin, Sandra Marie Rogers, Michael John Niemeyer, Kenneth Raymond Schueler, JR., Steven Michael Hurley, Lawrence Howell Sawyer, Whei-Neen Hsu, Mark C. Joy, Scott J. Smith, Markus Frank, Nancy Birbiglia Lange
  • Publication number: 20090262597
    Abstract: An ultrasonic mixing system having a treatment chamber in which at least two separate phases can be mixed to prepare an emulsion is disclosed. The treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which the phases flow longitudinally from a first inlet port and a second inlet port, respectively, to an outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the phases within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Philip Eugene Kieffer, Corey Thomas Cunningham, Steven Michael Hurley, Scott W. Wenzel, Shiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20080195407
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operational risk in a data processing system comprises a risk domain segmenter for segmenting the data processing system into a plurality of risk domains, a domain risk threshold selector for selecting a domain risk threshold for at least one of the plurality of risk domains, a system element monitor operable to query the data processing system for an indication of presence of system elements, a risk quantizer for evaluating a system element for element risk and for computing the potential contribution of the element risk to a domain risk total, a risk threshold comparator for comparing the domain risk total with the domain risk threshold, and a domain assignor operable to assign the system element to a risk domain in dependency upon an output of the risk threshold comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Michael Hurley, Barry Douglas Whyte
  • Publication number: 20040214499
    Abstract: An absorbent structure made at least in part from a superabsorbent material having a retention capacity (CRC) as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 25 g/g and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least 575×10−9 cm2. In another embodiment, the absorbent structure is made at least in part from a superabsorbent material having a retention capacity (CRC) as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 25 g/g, an absorbency under load (AUL) at 0.9 psi as determined by an Absorbency Under Load Test of at least 18 and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least about 350×10−9 cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Qin, Sandra Marie Rogers, Michael John Niemeyer, Kenneth Raymond Schueler, Steven Michael Hurley, Lawrence Howell Sawyer, Whei-Neen Hsu, Mark C. Joy, Scott J. Smith, Markus Frank, Nancy Birbiglia Lange