Patents by Inventor Thomas Gerard Shannon

Thomas Gerard Shannon 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: 6911114
    Abstract: The present invention is a tissue web comprising cellulosic fibers and a semi-synthetic cationic polymer having a molecular weight less than about 5 million. The semi-synthetic cationic polymer can be heterogeneously distributed in the tissue web. The semi-synthetic cationic polymer has a degree of cationic substitution of at least 0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 6896769
    Abstract: Modified condensation polymers containing azetidinium groups, such as polyamide epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins, can be combined with amphiphilic hydrocarbons containing polyethers into a single molecule to provide several potential benefits, depending upon the specific combination employed, including: (a) wet strength aids that impart softness; (b) softeners that do not reduce wet strength: (c) wet strength with improved wet/dry strength ratio; (d) surface feel modifiers with reduced linting and sloughing; (e) wet strength aids with controlled absorbency; (f) wet strength aids with controlled decay rate after wetting; and (g) Yankee dryer additives that provide surface protection and adhesion with controlled release properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Mike Thomas Goulet, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Wen Zyo Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20040163785
    Abstract: A tissue web and/or tissue product comprises a polysiloxane composition. The tissue web and/or tissue product has a post-aged AGAT value of about 60% or more of a pre-aged AGAT value after aging the tissue web and/or tissue product at about 25° C. for about 28 days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Matthew Edmund Higgins, Bozena Nogaj, Mary Philip, Darnell Clarence Radtke
  • Publication number: 20040166248
    Abstract: Activated carbon particles or fabrics are coated with a deformable or water-insoluble coating material comprising a binding agent and a masking agent that can be colored. The coating material can provide sufficient diffusivity to permit excellent efficiency in adsorption of materials in spite of the presence of a coating layer on the activated carbon. The use of a deformable binding agent yields coated particles that make relatively noise when the particles flow or are moved in use, and that have improved tactile properties in use. High performance colored activated carbon materials can be produced and placed in absorbent articles, overcoming common objections about the black color of activated carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Sheng-Hsin Hu, Ronald Lee Edens, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Publication number: 20040144507
    Abstract: The present invention is polysiloxane pretreated pulp fibers comprising pulp fibers, and a polysiloxane. The polysiloxane pretreated pulp fibers have a polysiloxane content of about 0.4 percent or greater by weight of dry pulp fibers, a silicone retention factor of about 0.6 or greater, and an initial water drop absorption value of about 180 seconds or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Dale Alan Burghardt, Lisa Ann Flugge, David Andrew Moline
  • Patent number: 6749721
    Abstract: Synthetic co-polymers having moieties capable of forming hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, or covalent bonds with cellulose fibers and paper modifying moieties capable of modifying a paper sheet are disclosed. These synthetic co-polymers are derived from the reaction of an aldehyde functional polymer and an aldehyde reactive paper modifying agent containing a non-hydroxyl aldehyde reactive functional group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Mike Thomas Goulet, Dana Stephanie Kass
  • Patent number: 6740406
    Abstract: Activated carbon particles or fabrics are coated with a deformable or water-insoluble coating material including a binding agent and a masking agent that can be colored. The coating material can provide sufficient diffusivity to permit excellent efficiency in adsorption of materials in spite of the presence of a coating layer on the activated carbon. The use of a deformable binding agent yields coated particles that make relatively less noise when the particles flow or are moved in use, and that have improved tactile properties in use. High performance colored activated carbon materials can be produced and placed in absorbent articles, overcoming common objections about the black color of activated carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheng-Hsin Hu, Ronald Lee Edens, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Publication number: 20040086726
    Abstract: The present invention is a tissue product having two outer surfaces and at least one layered tissue sheet. The layered tissue sheet has two outer layers. The tissue product comprises at least one layer of the layered tissue sheet comprises polysiloxane pretreated pulp fibers and at least one layer of the layered tissue sheet comprises non-treated pulp fibers. At least one layer of the layered tissue sheet comprises polysiloxane pretreated pulp fibers such that one layer comprising polysiloxane pretreated pulp fibers is adjacent to a layer comprising non-treated pulp fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: David Andrew Moline, Dale Alan Burghardt, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Publication number: 20040086727
    Abstract: The present invention is a soft tissue sheet. The tissue sheet comprises papermaking fibers and a polysiloxane composition. The polysiloxane composition comprises a polysiloxane and a compatible synthetic resin binder having a glass transition temperature of about 100° C. or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Lisa Ann Flugge, Kelly Dean Branham, William Clayton Bunyard, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Publication number: 20040084164
    Abstract: The present invention is a tissue product. The tissue product comprises at least one ply. Each ply comprises a first side and an opposing second side. At least one ply comprises a polysiloxane distributed non-uniformly in the z-direction within the ply such that the ply has a % z-directional polysiloxane gradient between the first side of the ply and the second side of the ply of about 20% or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Lisa Ann Flugge, David Andrew Moline, Troy Michael Runge, Wade Raymond Thompson
  • Publication number: 20040084165
    Abstract: The present invention is a tissue product comprising at least one tissue sheet. Each tissue sheet comprises a first side and an opposing second side. At least one tissue sheet comprises selectively treated pulp fiber treated with at least one hydrophobic chemical additive distributed non-uniformly in the z-direction within the tissue sheet. The tissue sheet has a % z-directional hydrophobic chemical additive gradient between the first side of the tissue sheet and the second side of the tissue sheet of about 20% or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, James Daniel Lorenz, David Andrew Moline, Troy Michael Runge, Thomas Hampshire Schulz
  • Publication number: 20040084162
    Abstract: The present invention is a soft tissue sheet having reduced lint and slough. The tissue sheet comprises papermaking fibers and a synthetic co-copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Kelly Dean Branham, William Clayton Bunyard, Lisa Ann Flugge
  • Publication number: 20040062907
    Abstract: The present invention is a tissue web comprising cellulosic fibers and a semi-synthetic cationic polymer having a molecular weight less than about 5 million. The semi-synthetic cationic polymer can be heterogeneously distributed in the tissue web. The semi-synthetic cationic polymer has a degree of cationic substitution of at least 0.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Publication number: 20040050514
    Abstract: Synthetic co-polymers having moieties capable of forming hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, or covalent bonds with cellulose fibers and paper modifying moieties capable of modifying a paper sheet are disclosed. These synthetic co-polymers are derived from the reaction of an aldehyde functional polymer and an aldehyde reactive paper modifying agent containing a non-hydroxyl aldehyde reactive functional group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Mike Thomas Goulet, Dana Stephanie Kass
  • Publication number: 20040045687
    Abstract: Pulp fibers can be treated with water insoluble chemical additives resulting in a minimal amount of unretained water insoluble chemical additives present after exposing the treated pulp fibers to process water, liquids, or solutions used in products. One embodiment of the present invention is a method for preparing chemically treated pulp fiber. A fiber slurry is created comprising process water and pulp fibers. The fiber slurry is transported to a web-forming apparatus of a pulp sheet machine thereby forming a wet fibrous web. The wet fibrous web is dried to a predetermined consistency thereby forming a dried fibrous web. The dried fibrous web is treated with a water insoluble chemical additive thereby forming a chemically treated dried fibrous web containing chemically treated pulp fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Louise Cynthia Ellis Coe, Mike Thomas Goulet, Sheng-Hsin Hu, David Andrew Moline, Alberto Ricardo Negri, Michael Payne, Troy Michael Runge, Alan Edward Wright
  • Patent number: 6701637
    Abstract: A web treatment device is disclosed capable of heating and creping a fibrous web with control systems for uniform operation. The web is pressed between two belts in a compression zone, where is it also subject to a temperature gradient that can assist in water removal. Durable coatings on the press belts can assist in maintaining good performance. The system can be used to apply texture to a fibrous web or drive chemical reactions or other physical changes in the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Kenneth Curtis Larson, Charles Herbert Goerg, Timothy Maurice McFarland, Michael Alan Hermans, Paul Douglas Beuther, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 6632904
    Abstract: Synthetic polymers having hydrogen bonding capability and one or more polysiloxane moieties are capable of providing two distinct properties to paper products, such as tissues, which properties heretofore have been imparted through the use of at least two different molecules. The backbone of these synthetic polymers is based on modified vinyl polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamides and polyacrylic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen Zyo Schroeder, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Mike Thomas Goulet, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Patent number: 6620295
    Abstract: Modified polysaccharides (such as starches, gums, chitosans, celluloses, alginates, sugars, etc.), which are commonly used in the paper industry as strengthening agents, surface sizes, coating binders, emulsifiers and adhesives, can be combined into a single molecule with amphiphilic hydrocarbons (e.g. surface active agents) which are commonly utilized in the paper industry to control absorbency, improve softness, enhance surface feel and function as dispersants. The resulting molecule is a modified polysaccharide having surface active moieties which can provide several potential benefits, depending on the specific combination employed, including: (a) strength aids that do not impart stiffness; (b) softeners that do not reduce strength; (c) wet strength with improved wet/dry strength ratio; (d) debonders with reduced linting and sloughing; (e) strength aids with controlled absorbency; and (f) surface sizing agents with improved tactile properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Mike Thomas Goulet, Wen Zyo Schroeder
  • Patent number: 6596126
    Abstract: Modified polysaccharides (such as starches, gums, chitosans, celluloses, alginates, sugars, etc.), which are commonly used in the paper industry as strengthening agents, surface sizes, coating binders, emulsifiers and adhesives, can be combined into a single molecule with modified aliphatic hydrocarbons, which are commonly utilized, in conjunction with cationic moieties, as softeners, debonders, lubricants and sizing agents. The resulting molecule is a modified polysaccharide having an aliphatic moiety which can provide several potential benefits, depending on the specific combination employed, including: (a) strength aids that do not impart stiffness; (b) softeners that do not reduce strength; (c) wet strength with improved wet/dry strength ratio; (d) debonders with reduced linting and sloughing; (e) strength aids with controlled absorbency; and (f) surface sizing agents with improved tactile properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Mike Thomas Goulet, Wen Zyo Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20030083492
    Abstract: Modified polysaccharides (such as starches, gums, chitosans, celluloses, alginates, sugars, etc.), which are commonly used in the paper industry as strengthening agents, surface sizes, coating binders, emulsifiers and adhesives, can be combined into a single molecule with amphiphilic hydrocarbons (e.g. surface active agents) which are commonly utilized in the paper industry to control absorbency, improve softness, enhance surface feel and function as dispersants. The resulting molecule is a modified polysaccharide having surface active moieties which can provide several potential benefits, depending on the specific combination employed, including: (a) strength aids that do not impart stiffness; (b) softeners that do not reduce strength; (c) wet strength with improved wet/dry strength ratio; (d) debonders with reduced tinting and sloughing; (e) strength aids with controlled absorbency; and (g) surface sizing agents with improved tactile properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Daniel Arthur Clarahan, Mike Thomas Goulet, Wen Zyo Schroeder