Patents by Inventor Wayne C. Sigl

Wayne C. Sigl 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: 7484261
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spot cleaner that includes a first absorbent pad and a second absorbent pad. The first absorbent pad includes a cleaner. The spot cleaner further includes a moisture proof barrier that is between the first absorbent pad and the second absorbent pad. The moisture proof barrier encloses the first absorbent pad to keep the cleaner inside the moisture proof barrier. In some embodiments, the moisture proof barrier has a first layer that is attached to the first absorbent pad and a second layer that is attached to the second absorbent pad. The first and second layers of the moisture proof barrier may be separable to allow a hand to be inserted between the first and second layers so that the hand is able to manipulate the spot cleaner without any portion of the spot or cleaner contacting the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Sigl, Amanda O'Connor, James McManus, Diane Luxhoj, Linda L. Bartelt
  • Patent number: 5992683
    Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet dispensing system which includes a clip lift member. The clip lift member of the present invention is positioned beneath the stack of sheets placed in the carton. The clip lift is comprised of an elastic member which is placed underneath a stack of sheets and is connected to the end walls of the carton. The clip lift may include a support member positioned between the sheets and the elastic member which may support the weight of the tissues. The clip lift biases the sheets in an upward direction as the sheets are being dispensed. The elastic member may be comprised of any elastic member, including a heat-activatable elastic member, which may be microwave susceptible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 5415650
    Abstract: An attachment system and a method of attaching an absorbent article to an undergarment is disclosed. The attachment system includes an absorbent article having an absorbent, a liquid permeable cover and a liquid-permeable baffle. The cover and baffle cooperate to enclose the absorbent and form a pad having a garment facing surface, at least a portion of which is coated with a first cohesive-adhesive. The attachment system also includes an undergarment which is designed to be worn about the torso of a human body. The undergarment has a crotch portion which is at least partially coated with a second cohesive-adhesive. The absorbent article is positioned on and held secure to the crotch portion of the undergarment by cohering the first cohesive-adhesive to the second cohesive-adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 5030375
    Abstract: A laundry detergent sheet is saturated with active detergent solids and thereafter coated with the balance of the detergent formulation in the form of a powder, thereby increasing the active detergent solids content of the sheet and at the same time improving the surface feel characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne C. Sigl, Frank C. Murray
  • Patent number: 4919835
    Abstract: A laundry detergent sheet is saturated with active detergent solids and thereafter coated with the balance of the detergent formulation in the form of a powder, thereby increasing the active detergent solids content of the sheet and at the same time improving the surface feel characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne C. Sigl, Frank C. Murray
  • Patent number: 4867831
    Abstract: Ply attachment for multiply lotioned tissue products is accomplished by distributing thermoplastic particles between the plies and melting the thermoplastic particles to bond together the fibers of the two plies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 4806418
    Abstract: Ply attachment for multiply lotioned tissue products is accomplished by distributing thermoplastic particles between the plies and melting the thermoplastic particles to bond together the fibers of the two plies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 4638921
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved apparatus for sequentially dispensing individual, liquid-impregnated sheets along a dispensing direction from an interfolded array of the sheets while presenting a next available sheet from the array in a graspable position. The apparatus includes a container for holding the array of sheets and includes a distinctive guiding mechanism. The guiding mechanism is located on the container and extends substantially linearly along a direction transverse to the dispensing direction. It contacts a major surface of an overlapped portion between a preceding sheet and a successive sheet, and directs the sheets along a curvilinear path, which curves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet surface. This configuration induces a separation between the individual sheets and presents a portion of the successive sheet in a graspable position outside of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne C. Sigl, Elizabeth A. Wolfson
  • Patent number: 4601065
    Abstract: A baby's bib is provided with a crumb catcher designed to retain an open position due to the use of an involute semi-rigid spacer means which connects the crumb catcher to the bib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne C. Sigl, Dan D. Endres, Christine C. Habert
  • Patent number: 4582550
    Abstract: An elasticized article and a method for elasticizing the article are disclosed in which a strip of elastic material has an end bonded to an end of a strip of shrinkable material to form a single elongated strip having spaced apart opposing ends. The combined strip is bonded at its opposing ends to a flexible substrate of an article with the elastic material in a contracted relaxed condition and the shrinkable means in a stable extended condition. Subsequent to the application of the combined strip to the flexible substrate, the shrinkable means is contracted by shrinking to thereby extend the elastic material and elasticize the flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 4527990
    Abstract: An elasticized article and a method for elasticizing the article are disclosed in which a strip of elastic material has an end bonded to an end of a strip of shrinkable material to form a single elongated strip having spaced apart opposing ends. The combined strip is bonded at its opposing ends to a flexible substrate of an article with the elastic material in a contracted relaxed condition and the shrinkable means in a stable extended condition. Subsequent to the application of the combined strip to the flexible substrate, the shrinkable means is contracted by shrinking to thereby extend the elastic material and elasticize the flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 4486192
    Abstract: Methods, the products produced thereby, and apparatus for forming conformable garments having selected discrete elasticized areas. More specifically, methods and apparatus for stretching one or more ribbons of thermoplastic elastomeric material, immobilizing the stretched material in its extended state, subjecting spaced discrete areas of the stretched elastic material to heat so as to "kill" the elastic properties thereof in the heated regions while leaving the elastic properties of the intermediate unheated regions thereof unaltered thereby forming alternate elasticized and non-elasticized zones of the material. The elastic ribbon may be bonded either prior to or after being selectively "heat-killed" to a continuous web suitable for use in forming a plurality of interconnected, but severable, like conformable garments having selected discrete elasticized areas on a high speed production basis. In the preferred form of the invention, the conformable garment thus formed comprises a disposable diaper product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 4437860
    Abstract: A disposable diaper with uniformly stretched elastic bands adhesively bonded along the entire length of both edges of the diaper with heavier concentrations of adhesive in the waistband portions than in the crotch portion to reduce gathering and creep of the elastic in the waistband portions. Preferably the diaper is of hour glass shape with the elastic outboard of the absorbent batt in the crotch portion and extending across the laterally extending ears of the absorbent batt in the waistband portions to further improve the stability thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne C. Sigl, Richard H. Frick
  • Patent number: 4417938
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for attaching a continuously moving elastic ribbon to a continuously moving web such that only selected discrete areas of a finished conformable garment fabricated from the web are elasticized. A continuously moving belt formed of plate members hinged together and engaging the continuously moving web is guided by cam means to cause adjacent plate members to fold and thereby form folds in the web. After folding of the web, the continuously moving elastic ribbon is moved into contact with areas of the web between the folds and is adhered to the web at these areas. The elastic is cut opposite the folded areas of the web corresponding to areas in the finished diaper in which it is desired not to provide elasticization. The belt means is then guided so that the plate members unfold to thereby unfold the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 4412881
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for elasticizing the leg areas of disposable diapers is disclosed. A continuously moving elastic ribbon is attached to a continuously moving web at spaced apart locations along the length of the web corresponding to the leg areas of a finished diaper. The web is moved over an arcuate surface and the portion of the ribbon that is not attached to the web is drawn through a gap in the surface so that the unattached ribbon portion separates from the web and travels a shorter path than the web. While the web and unattached ribbon portion are separated, the unattached ribbon portion is cut so that only the ribbon portion attached to the web will have an elasticization effect on the finished diapers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1983
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 4300967
    Abstract: Methods, the products produced thereby, and apparatus for forming conformable garments having selected discrete elasticized areas. More specifically, methods and apparatus for stretching one or more ribbons of thermoplastic elastomeric material, immobilizing the stretched material in its extended state, subjecting spaced discrete areas of the stretched material to heat so as to "kill" the elastic properties thereof in the heated regions while leaving the elastic properties of the intermediate unheated regions thereof unaltered and bonding the alternate elasticized and non-elasticized zones of the elastic ribbon to a continuous web suitable for use in forming a plurality of interconnected, but severable, like conformable garments having selected discrete elasticized areas on a high speed production basis. In the preferred form of the invention, the conformable garment thus formed comprises a disposable diaper product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne C. Sigl
  • Patent number: 4213459
    Abstract: A disposable diaper in which the main absorbent pad is a fluff batt having a specially selected localized area of increased density to improve the effective fluid absorbing capabilities of the diaper when worn, and to minimize waist leakage problems. The localized area of increased density is longitudinally centered in the back panel at the upper rear section of the diaper as worn, and extends from the waist of the diaper to the approximate transverse midpoint of the diaper. This densified area is also spaced inwardly from the side edges of the diaper to leave sections of undensified fluff along each side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne C. Sigl, Philip A. LaBorde
  • Patent number: 4049764
    Abstract: In the formation of highly absorbent and rapidly wicking filaments and web structures by extrusion and solvent drying of extrudates composed of highly swollen hydrophilic chemically modified cellulose fibers, improved results are obtained in the form of a softer and better wicking product by treatment of the extrudate prior to extrusion. The extrudate is a mass containing the swollen chemically modified cellulose fibers and a water content of up to 98% at the time of extrusion. By adding to the extrudate, prior to extrusion, an amount of from about 2 to 50% of the solvent to be used in drying in the form of pure solvent or in the form of a mixture containing solvent but which may contain water or other non-solvent and the solvent to be used in drying, a much better performing extrudate is produced which results in better filament formation, improved bonding between filaments, lower water content in the extrudate, faster drying of the extruded product, and a softer, better wicking product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1977
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne C. Sigl, Frederick O. Lassen
  • Patent number: 3982325
    Abstract: Solvent-drying, particularly of water-wetted materials, is accomplished through the use of specific azeotropic mixed-solvent systems. The azeotropic systems used in the method of the invention are those which form two or more separate layers, in which the water distribution equilibrium favors the concentration of water or other liquid being removed in one layer over the other. The water or other liquid, therefore, concentrates in one layer facilitating removal by separation of the layers. Drying of the material takes place in the other layer which maintains a constant liquid concentration sufficiently low so as to produce a substantially dried product. Temperature control of the solvent bath and separator contents results in a single-layer drying bath and facilitates separation in a preferred embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne C. Sigl, Frederick O. Lassen