Patents by Inventor Steven S. Harlen

Steven S. Harlen 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: 11432969
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a laminate absorbent structure, and a resulting package containing a single continuous running web of the laminate material. Notably, formation of the material is effected by blending a curtain of adhesive fibers with a curtain of particulate material, and depositing the mixture on a moving substrate, preferably provided in the form of a tissue layer. A second substrate, also preferably comprising a tissue layer, is applied on top of the deposited mixture, and pressure applied to form the laminated structure. Notably, attendant to packaging of the laminated material, adjacent layers of the material tend to nest into one another, to form a sandwich in which the density of the material in the package is more than 1.5 times the density of the material after its removal from the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: EAM Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Ducker, Steven S. Harlen
  • Publication number: 20150108028
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a laminate absorbent structure, and a resulting package containing a single continuous running web of the laminate material. Notably, formation of the material is effected by blending a curtain of adhesive fibers with a curtain of particulate material, and depositing the mixture on a moving substrate, preferably provided in the form of a tissue layer. A second substrate, also preferably comprising a tissue layer, is applied on top of the deposited mixture, and pressure applied to form the laminated structure. Notably, attendant to packaging of the laminated material, adjacent layers of the material tend to nest into one another, to form a sandwich in which the density of the material in the package is more than 1.5 times the density of the material after its removal from the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Paul M. Ducker, Steven S. Harlen
  • Publication number: 20120205061
    Abstract: The present material contains density gradients which direct fluid into the material and distribute it providing more effective fluid transport and efficient utilization of storage capacity. The material consists of two regions. In the first region, the material has a low-density stratum adjacent to one surface, overlaying at least one higher density stratum adjacent to the opposite surface of the sheet. These strata create a density gradient in the thickness direction (Z-direction) of the sheet. The second region consists of a fluid distribution structure that has a higher density than at least the lower density of the strata comprising the first region. The fluid distribution structure is in direct fluid communication with the adjacent strata in the first region, along their boundaries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Paul M. Ducker, Steven S. Harlen
  • Patent number: 8202609
    Abstract: An absorbent material for use in a disposable absorbent product exhibiting enhanced wet strength characteristics includes a blend of cellulosic fibrous material and superabsorbent polymeric material, with a wax applied to the blend in a preferably discontinuous or non-uniform distribution for enhancing wet strength characteristics of the material, without unacceptably diminishing its absorbency. Notably, the absorbent material includes regions of relatively high densification, which can exist about particles of superabsorbent material, with application of wax in a molten form resulting in the spontaneous flow and migration of the wax to the regions of higher densification. The material can be formed with a pattern of regions of relatively high and low densification, with the wax preferentially distributed in those regions of high densification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: EAM Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Ducker, Steven S. Harlen, David S. Varney
  • Publication number: 20120148821
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a laminate absorbent structure, and a resulting package containing a single continuous running web of the laminate material. Notably, formation of the material is effected by blending a curtain of adhesive fibers with a curtain of particulate material, and depositing the mixture on a moving substrate, preferably provided in the form of a tissue layer. A second substrate, also preferably comprising a tissue layer, is applied on top of the deposited mixture, and pressure applied to form the laminated structure. Notably, attendant to packaging of the laminated material, adjacent layers of the material tend to nest into one another, to form a sandwich in which the density of the material in the package is more than 1.5 times the density of the material after its removal from the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: EAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul M. Ducker, Steven S. Harlen
  • Publication number: 20110162989
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a laminate absorbent structure, and a resulting package containing a single continuous running web of the laminate material. Notably, formation of the material is effected by blending a curtain of adhesive fibers with a curtain of particulate material, and depositing the mixture on a moving substrate, preferably provided in the form of a tissue layer. A second substrate, also preferably comprising a tissue layer, is applied on top of the deposited mixture, and pressure applied to form the laminated structure. Notably, attendant to packaging of the laminated material, adjacent layers of the material tend to nest into one another, to form a sandwich in which the density of the material in the package is more than 1.5 times the density of the material after its removal from the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Paul M. Ducker, Steven S. Harlen, Ching-Yun Morris Yang
  • Publication number: 20100318047
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent material that can be used as an absorbent core in absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, pantiliners, incontinence products, disposable diapers, etc. The material of the present invention is a nonwoven sheet, consisting of cellulosic fibers, optionally superabsorbent polymeric material, containing no binders, latexes, etc, relying on hydrogen bonding to produce the necessary structure. The material contains density gradients which direct fluid into the material and distribute it providing more effective fluid transport and efficient utilization of storage capacity. The material consists of two regions. In the first region, the material has a low-density stratum adjacent to one surface, overlaying at least one higher density stratum adjacent to the opposite surface of the sheet. These strata create a density gradient in the thickness direction (Z-direction) of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Paul M. Ducker, Steven S. Harlen
  • Publication number: 20100209668
    Abstract: An absorbent material for use in a disposable absorbent product exhibiting enhanced wet strength characteristics includes a blend of cellulosic fibrous material and superabsorbent polymeric material, with a wax applied to the blend in a preferably discontinuous or non-uniform distribution for enhancing wet strength characteristics of the material, without unacceptably diminishing its absorbency. Notably, the absorbent material includes regions of relatively high densification, which can exist about particles of superabsorbent material, with application of wax in a molten form resulting in the spontaneous flow and migration of the wax to the regions of higher densification. The material can be formed with a pattern of regions of relatively high and low densification, with the wax preferentially distributed in those regions of high densification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Paul M. Ducker, Steven S. Harlen, David S. Varney