Patents by Inventor Timothy Ian Mullane
Timothy Ian Mullane 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: 20150209189Abstract: A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventor: Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Patent number: 9067357Abstract: Methods for forming discrete deformations in web materials are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method involves feeding a web into an apparatus having nips that are formed between intermeshing rolls. The apparatus may be in the form of nested or other arrangements of multiple rolls, in which the web is maintained in substantial contact with at least one of the rolls throughout the process, and at least two of the rolls define two or more nips thereon with other rolls. In some embodiments, rolls can be used to expose a different side of the web for a subsequent deformation step. In these or other embodiments, the rolls can be used to transfer the web between rolls in such a manner that it may offset the rolls and/or web so that subsequent deformations are formed at a different cross-machine direction location than prior deformations.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2011Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Jill Marlene Orr, Kirk Wallace Lake, John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Keith Joseph Stone, Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Patent number: 9023261Abstract: A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventor: Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Patent number: 8975210Abstract: The present invention relates to a web substrate comprising an activatable colorant and at least one deformed region. A first activated color region is produced in the web substrate upon exposure to a first external stimulus and a second activated color region is produced within the first activated color region upon exposure to a second external stimulus. The second activated color region coincides with the deformed region.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Co.Inventors: Kelyn Anne Arora, John Lee Hammons, Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Patent number: 8852482Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which uses activation members for incrementally stretching a web at a low strain rate. The activation members include an activation belt and a single activation member wherein the activation belt and single activation member comprise a plurality of teeth and grooves that complement and engage one another at a depth of engagement in a deformation zone. The depth of engagement can be controlled to increase linearly over at least a portion of the deformation zone such that a web interposed between the activation belt and the single activation member in the deformation zone is incrementally stretched at a low rate of strain.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Timothy Ian Mullane, Jill Marlene Orr
-
Publication number: 20140239537Abstract: Methods for forming discrete deformations in web materials are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method involves feeding a web into an apparatus having nips that are formed between intermeshing rolls. The apparatus may be in the form of nested or other arrangements of multiple rolls, in which the web is maintained in substantial contact with at least one of the rolls throughout the process, and at least two of the rolls define two or more nips thereon with other rolls. In some embodiments, rolls can be used to expose a different side of the web for a subsequent deformation step. In these or other embodiments, the rolls can be used to transfer the web between rolls in such a manner that it may offset the rolls and/or web so that subsequent deformations are formed at a different cross-machine direction location than prior deformations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2014Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventor: Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Publication number: 20140120323Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for deforming a web are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method involves feeding a web into a nip that is formed between at least two intermeshing rolls. The rolls are configured for deforming a web with at least two sets of deformations that are oriented in different directions relative to the surfaces of the web.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2014Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Kirk Wallace Lake, Jill Marlene Orr, John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Timothy Ian Mullane, Leroy Joseph Kocher
-
Patent number: 8679391Abstract: A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Hugh Joseph O'Donnell, Robert Haines Turner, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, Douglas Herrin Benson, Timothy Ian Mullane, Karen Denise McAffry, John Lee Hammons, Kelyn Anne Arora
-
Publication number: 20140054827Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing color change in a substrate. The substrate includes an activatable colorant and a region that is heated prior to activating the activatable colorant. The substrate is exposed to electromagnetic radiation producing a first activated color region in the heated region and a second activated color region in a non heated region. The first activated color region appears in a different shade than the second activated color region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Timothy Ian MULLANE, Kelyn Anne ARORA
-
Patent number: 8657596Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for deforming a web are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method involves feeding a web into a nip that is formed between at least two intermeshing rolls. The rolls are configured for deforming a web with at least two sets of deformations that are oriented in different directions relative to the surfaces of the web.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Kirk Wallace Lake, Jill Marlene Orr, John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Timothy Ian Mullane, Leroy Joseph Kocher
-
Patent number: 8614365Abstract: An absorbent article having a topsheet having a first portion and a second portion. The topsheet has a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline. The topsheet has an area. The second portion can differ in structure from the first portion. The second portion can have a structurally modified zone. The structurally modified zone has a periphery, a length, and a long axis. The length is the maximum straight-line dimension between two points on the periphery. The long axis extends between two points on the periphery separated by the length. The long axis of the structurally modified zone can be asymmetric to the longitudinal centerline. The structurally modified zone can make up more than about 5% of the area of the topsheet. The topsheet can have a lotion zone, the long axis of which is asymmetric to the longitudinal centerline and the transverse centerline.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2007Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: John Lee Hammons, Sybille Fuchs, Jody Lynn Hoying, Timothy Ian Mullane, Casandre Maffett Walsh, Donna Marie Caudill, Naomi Ruth Nelson
-
Patent number: 8460597Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing color change in a substrate. The substrate includes an activatable colorant and a region that is heated prior to activating the activatable colorant. The substrate is exposed to electromagnetic radiation producing a first activated color region in the heated region and a second activated color region in a non heated region. The first activated color region appears in a different shade than the second activated color region.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Timothy Ian Mullane, Kelyn Anne Arora
-
Patent number: 8343411Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing activated color regions in a web substrate where activated color regions are formed coinciding with deformed regions. The method includes providing a web substrate having an activatable colorant and producing a first activated color region therein. The web substrate is mechanically deformed to produce at least one deformed region in the first activated color region such that a second activated color region is produced coinciding with the at least one deformed region.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Kelyn Anne Arora, John Lee Hammons, Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Patent number: 8337190Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which uses activation members for incrementally stretching a web at a low strain rate. The activation members include an activation belt and a single activation member wherein the activation belt and single activation member comprise a plurality of teeth and grooves that complement and engage one another at a depth of engagement in a deformation zone. The depth of engagement can be controlled to increase linearly over at least a portion of the deformation zone such that a web interposed between the activation belt and the single activation member in the deformation zone is incrementally stretched at a low rate of strain.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2011Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Timothy Ian Mullane, Jill Marlene Orr
-
Publication number: 20120295060Abstract: A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventor: Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Publication number: 20120282436Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for aperturing and stretching a web are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method involves feeding a web into a nip that is formed between at least one pair of intermeshing rolls. The first roll is a raised ridge rotary knife aperturing roll and the second roll is a ring roll; both rolls comprise ridges and grooves. The first roll comprises a plurality of spaced-apart teeth extending outwardly from the top surface of the ridges, said teeth having tips, wherein the top surface of said ridges are disposed between the tips of said teeth and the bottom surface of said grooves. These apparatuses and processes enable a web to be formed which comprises apertures having greater open area than previously achievable with traditional processes and apparatuses.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Inventors: Richard George Coe, Jill Marlene Orr, Sarah Beth Gross, Robert Karl Isburgh, Leroy Joseph Kocher, Kevin Gerard Muhs, Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Publication number: 20120276341Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for deforming a web are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method involves feeding a web into a nip that is formed between at least two intermeshing rolls. The rolls are configured for deforming a web with at least two sets of deformations that are oriented in different directions relative to the surfaces of the web.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Kirk Wallace Lake, Jill Marlene Orr, John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Timothy Ian Mullane, Leroy Joseph Kocher
-
Publication number: 20120276238Abstract: Apparatuses for forming discrete deformations in web materials are disclosed. The apparatus may be in the form of nested or other arrangements of multiple rolls, in which the web is maintained in substantial contact with at least one of the rolls throughout the process, and at least two of the rolls define two or more nips thereon with other rolls. In some embodiments, rolls can be used to expose a different side of the web for a subsequent deformation step. In these or other embodiments, the rolls can be used to transfer the web between rolls in such a manner that it may offset the rolls and/or web so that subsequent deformations are formed at a different cross-machine direction location than prior deformations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: John Brian Strube, Jill Marlene Orr, John Joseph Curro, Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Publication number: 20120276331Abstract: Corrugated and apertured web materials are disclosed. More specifically, the webs comprise alternating ridges and grooves, wherein apertures are located in the grooves. In one embodiment, a web comprises alternating ridges and grooves as well as alternating regions of lower basis weight and higher basis weight. The higher basis weight regions are located in the ridges and grooves and the lower basis weight regions are located in the sidewalls between the ridges and grooves. The higher basis weight regions located in the grooves comprise apertures. The apertures have greater open area than previous apertures in similar webs.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Jill Marlene Orr, Richard George Coe, John Lee Hammons, Sarah Beth Gross, Leroy Joseph Kocher, Timothy Ian Mullane
-
Publication number: 20120273990Abstract: A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Hugh Joseph O'Donnell, Robert Haines Turner, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, Douglas Herrin Benson, Timothy Ian Mullane, Karen Denise MaAffry, John Lee Hammons, Kelyn Ann Arora