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: 20120242009
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy Ian Mullane, Kelyn Anne Arora
  • Patent number: 8241543
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 8158043
    Abstract: A method for making apertures in a precursor web using a forming apparatus is provided where the web comprises a film having molecular orientation and the forming apparatus comprises an arrangement of teeth. The orientation of the arrangement of teeth and the molecular orientation of the film are predetermined and modified to provide a relative angle between the orientation of the teeth and the molecular orientation of the film. Apertures formed in the precursor web material have a length and width exhibiting a minimal aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Fredrick William Gibson, Kelyn Anne Arora, John Lee Hammons, Norman Scott Broyles, Jill Marlene Orr, Timothy Ian Mullane, Jody Lynn Hoying, Karen Denise McAffry, Hugh Joseph O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20120064298
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Jill Marlene Orr, Kirk Wallace Lake, John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Keith Joseph Stone, Timothy Ian Mullane
  • Publication number: 20120049404
    Abstract: A method for making apertures in a precursor web using a forming apparatus is provided where the web comprises a film having molecular orientation and the forming apparatus comprises an arrangement of teeth. The orientation of the arrangement of teeth and the molecular orientation of the film are predetermined and modified to provide a relative angle between the orientation of the teeth and the molecular orientation of the film. Apertures formed in the precursor web material have a length and width exhibiting a minimal aspect ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Fredrick William Gibson, Kelyn Anne Arora, John Lee Hammons, Norman Scott Broyles, Jill Marlene Orr, Timothy Ian Mullane, John Joseph Curro, Karen Denise McAffry, Hugh Joseph O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20120003345
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Timothy Ian Mullane, Jill Marlene Orr
  • Publication number: 20110260371
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Kelyn Anne Arora, John Lee Hammons, Timothy Ian Mullane
  • Publication number: 20110264064
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Kelyn Anne Arora, John Lee Hammons, Timothy Ian Mullane
  • Patent number: 8021591
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Timothy Ian Mullane, Jill Marlene Orr
  • Publication number: 20110184331
    Abstract: Feminine hygiene devices having a withdrawal string comprising one or more scoured synthetic fibers are provided. The feminine hygiene device can include a body having an insertion end, a withdrawal end, a longitudinal axis, and a withdrawal string extending from the withdrawal end. The withdrawal string can comprise one or more scoured synthetic fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Ryo Minoguchi, Kelyn Anne Arora, William Patton Peace, Timothy Ian Mullane, Sally Sujin Yoon
  • Publication number: 20100201024
    Abstract: A method for making apertures in a precursor web using a forming apparatus is provided where the web comprises a film having molecular orientation and the forming apparatus comprises an arrangement of teeth. The orientation of the arrangement of teeth and the molecular orientation of the film are predetermined and modified to provide a relative angle between the orientation of the teeth and the molecular orientation of the film. Apertures formed in the precursor web material have a length and width exhibiting a minimal aspect ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Fredrick William Gibson, Kelyn Anne Arora, John Lee Hammons, Norman Scott Broyles, Jill Marlene Orr, Timothy Ian Mullane, John Joseph Curro, Karen Denise McAffry, Hugh Joseph O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20090030391
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: John Lee Hammons, Sybille Fuchs, Jody Lynn Hoying, Timothy Ian Mullane, Casandre Maffett Walsh, Philip Andrew Sawin, Donna Marie Caudill, Naomi Ruth Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090030390
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: John Lee Hammons, Sybille Fuchs, Jody Lynn Hoying, Timothy Ian Mullane, Casandre Maffett Walsh, Donna Marie Caudill, Naomi Ruth Nelson
  • Publication number: 20080224351
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Timothy Ian Mullane, Jill Marlene Orr