Folding Only Patents (Class 156/226)
  • Publication number: 20010022211
    Abstract: A carton blank may be formed from a first sheet of relatively rigid material and a second sheet of relatively flexible fluid impervious material. The second sheet of relatively flexible fluid impervious material may cover some but not other portions of the first sheet of relatively rigid material in order to facilitate gluing of the other portions of the first sheet of relatively rigid material when the carton blank is assembled into a carton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventor: Joseph C. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6288324
    Abstract: In order to ensure long-term reliability when a photovoltaic element is bent or curved to be deformed: (1) In a method for manufacturing a solar cell module having a photovoltaic element encapsulated with a resin on a support member, the step is adopted which forms a bent portion in the photovoltaic element and in the support member, wherein the formation of the bent portion is performed while reducing a working pressure in the normal direction to a surface of the photovoltaic element; and (2) In a solar cell module comprising a photovoltaic element comprising at least one photoactive semiconductor layer on a flexible substrate, at least a part of the flexible substrate is subjected to tensile deformation in the direction parallel to a surface of the substrate with a strain less than a critical strain to lower the fill factor of the photovoltaic element, whereby the photovoltaic element is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayako Komori, Kimitoshi Fukae, Akiharu Takabayashi, Toshihiko Mimura, Masahiro Mori, Takeshi Takada
  • Patent number: 6245179
    Abstract: A process for making a sealing material for sealing doublewide manufactured homes includes the steps of selecting an elongated seal core made of a foamed polymer and selecting a flexible polymer covering sleeve for loosely covering the selected seal core and covering the seal core with a loose fitting covering sleeve. The covering sleeve is then shaped to form a skin over the seal core by forming a pair of flanges from the slack material in the covering sleeve with a folded portion of the covering sleeve and attaching the folded portions together to form flanges. A seal for a doublewide manufactured home is formed by the process and has an elongated polymer foam core covered by an elongated flexible polymer sleeve and having a pair of elongated flanges formed with folded slack material in the flexible polymer sleeve which folded flange portions are attached together, such as by sewing. A predetermined density foam core material of a larger size is covered with a woven polypropylene material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventors: Gregory A. Arnold, Jamie C. Arnold
  • Patent number: 6215060
    Abstract: In order to ensure long-term reliability when a photovoltaic element is bent or curved to be deformed: (1) In a method for manufacturing a solar cell module having a photovoltaic element encapsulated with a resin on a support member, the step is adopted which forms a bent portion in the photovoltaic element and in the support member, wherein the formation of the bent portion is performed while reducing a working pressure in the normal direction to a surface of the photovoltaic element; and (2) In a solar cell module comprising a photovoltaic element comprising at least one photoactive semiconductor layer on a flexible substrate, at least a part of the flexible substrate is subjected to tensile deformation in the direction parallel to a surface of the substrate with a strain less than a critical strain to lower the fill factor of the photovoltaic element, whereby the photovoltaic element is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayako Komori, Akiharu Takabayashi, Toshihiko Mimura, Masahiro Mori, Takeshi Takada
  • Patent number: 6193830
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a filter insert, configured as a folding pack and made of thermoplastically bondable nonwoven material, such that a planar filter medium is first folded and then immobilized in a permanent form at a preset fold spacing by delivery of energy and subsequent cooling, such that after the process step of creating a defined fold spacing, the two outer edges of the folded pack are positively clamped into comb-like profiles, substantially corresponding to the fold geometry and dimensions of the folded pack and engaging in toothed fashion into the top and bottom of the folds, the spacing between which is chosen to be the same as or slightly less than the thickness of the nonwoven fiber fabric, wherein the folded filter material projects beyond the comb-like profiles at each outer edge a distance less than 1 times the fold spacing, wherein a sealing band, corresponding in width substantially to the height of the folds, is laid on the outer edges on the long sides, and in each case compressed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Dieter Unrath
  • Patent number: 6110312
    Abstract: A process for making a sealing material for sealing doublewide manufactured homes includes the steps of selecting an elongated seal core made of a foamed polymer and selecting a flexible polymer covering sleeve for loosely covering the selected seal core and covering the seal core with a loose fitting covering sleeve. The covering sleeve is then shaped to form a skin over the seal core by forming a pair of flanges from the slack material in the covering sleeve with a folded portion of the covering sleeve and attaching the folded portions together to form flanges. A seal for a doublewide manufactured home is formed by the process and has an elongated polymer foam core covered by an elongated flexible polymer sleeve and having a pair of elongated flanges formed with folded slack material in the flexible polymer sleeve which folded flange portions are attached together, such as by sewing. A predetermined density foam core material of a larger size is covered with a woven polypropylene material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventors: Gregory A. Arnold, Jamie C. Arnold
  • Patent number: 6103040
    Abstract: For forming a packaged product sample held in a carrier material (1), in a first operation two sections of material (8, 9), for example sections of film, are applied next to each other to the same side of the carrier material (1). Then, the product sample (10) is applied to one section of material (8). Subsequently, by folding the carrier material (1) about a folding line (11), the other section of material (9) is placed over the section of material (8) carrying the product sample (10). Subsequently, the two sections of carrier material (1a, 1b) lying one over the other and carrying the sections of material (8, 9) are joined to each other, to be precise along a closed region surrounding the product sample (10). In order to be able to remove the product sample, within the joining region between the two sections of carrier material (1a, 1b) there is provided a line of weakness which defines a tear-open part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG Papierverarbeitungsmaschinen
    Inventor: Franz Hunkeler
  • Patent number: 6039828
    Abstract: A method of forming a catamenial tampon is disclosed wherein the tampon is useful in preventing premature leakage of body fluid from a woman's vagina and in providing better utilization of the absorbent during use. The method includes the steps of assembling a resilient member and an absorbent to form a structure having a central longitudinal axis X--X. The resilient member can be either aligned with or offset from the central longitudinal axis X--X. The absorbent and the resilient member are rolled or folded up into an elongated softwind which has a first end and a second end. The softwind is folded upon itself such that the first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and the softwind contains at least two folds therebetween. The softwind is then compressed into a pledget having an insertion end and a trailing end. A withdrawal string is secured to the pledget to form a tampon. The withdrawal string facilitates removal of the tampon from the woman's vagina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Michele Achter, Tammy Jo Balzar, Donald George Fox
  • Patent number: 6022436
    Abstract: An electrode is made by depositing a mixture of particulate carbon and very fine thermoplastic binder on the surface of a fluid permeable dielectric web. The coated web is then passed between a pair of rollers that apply heat to at least the Vicat softening point of the binder and simultaneously apply pressure to fuse the carbon and binder to the web. Two of such electrodes are employed to manufacture a flow-through capacitor suitable for use in water treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Koslow Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Evan E. Koslow, Richard D. Kendrick, Gordon Spilkin
  • Patent number: 5961769
    Abstract: A separator sheet is formed of a plastic material and has a number of ribs formed on one side thereof. The ribs extend in the direction in which the separator sheet is fed. The sheet is overlaid with a glass mat, and a laminated member obtained thereby is moved into the region between a pair of driving rolls. After being sandwiched by the driving rolls, the laminated member is fed into an envelope apparatus. In an adhesive coating step, a hot melt adhesive is coated on one side of the glass mat. The adhesive is coated at portions C corresponding to the base sections between the ribs of the sheet, in such a manner that the coated adhesive forms a line extending in the longitudinal direction of the glass mat. In a stacking step, the sheet and the glass mat are stacked one upon the other. In the pressing step, the laminated member is sandwiched between the driving rolls, and the adhesive-coated portions of the glass mat are tightly pressed by the ribs provided on the circumferential surface of the driving roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: The Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigenori Moue
  • Patent number: 5961758
    Abstract: For manufacturing printed products such as books or booklets consisting of a stack of paper sheets adhesively joined together and folded along a middle line, a plurality of paper webs are brought together to form a stack of paper layers moving continuously. Into the continuously moving stack a liquid binder is injected along equidistant lines perpendicular to the moving direction of the stack. After binder injection, two,additional webs are brought together with the stack to cover the stack on both sides. Then the stack is cut midway between each pair of junction lines to form individual stacks and the individual stacks are folded along the junction line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Werner Honegger
  • Patent number: 5961763
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a laminate suited for use in producing disposable absorbent products comprising a nonwoven web formed from randomly dispersed fibers bonded with a crosslinked vinyl acetate/ethylene adhesive and a particulate polymeric absorbent entrapped within the laminate in fixed location by means of adhesively bonding the nonwoven web to itself or to another substrate, the improvement which comprises utilizing a nonwoven web incorporating an acrylic or vinyl acetate/ethylene adhesive having the following characteristics, and further, said nonwoven web adhesively bonded to itself or to another substrate through the crosslinked acrylic or crosslinked vinyl acetate/ethylene adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kambiz Bayat Makoui, Joel Erwin Goldstein
  • Patent number: 5919334
    Abstract: The machine of the present invention is used to produce articles of apparel having an openable front or rear panel. It includes feeder mechanisms to supply two half width webs and webs for reinforced edges through cutter mechanisms where webs cut into segments for the desired garment are overlapped to provide a central opening. Segments are transferred to a carrier drum having folding devices which are operative while the drum rotates. A full width web with a pattern of adhesive pre-applied to selected margins is overlaid on top. The underlying segments have extension flaps along selected margins which are folded around and over the edges of the top panel segment and bondably seamed to it by means on, or co-acting with, the carrier drum. Seams can be made along transverse, longitudinal, or skewed lines by different folding device arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventor: William P. Niedermeyer
  • Patent number: 5906699
    Abstract: In a method of making paper lamp shades the paper is wrapped at least around part of a circumferential surface of a cylindrical body. A thread is wrapped around the paper applied to the circumferential surface. The paper having the thread wrapped therearound is pushed together, in a direction along the cylindrical body, thereby folding the paper. Then the pushed together paper is removed from the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Ingo Maurer
    Inventor: Dagmar Mombach
  • Patent number: 5904802
    Abstract: The machine of the present invention fabricates briefs having an openable front panel from two continuous half width webs. The first and second web paths are transversely spaced. It includes feeding and folding devices to add a V-folded reinforcing strip along the edge of one web. Feeder and tensioning devices are included for elastomeric strands that shirr the briefs and to add a re-closable tape across the front panel opening. One of the webs is printed with adhesive at spaced intervals to bond portions of the two overlapped webs in central areas of overlap that become the rear panel after the web is cut into segments and transversely folded. The machine attaches components of the brief and cuts leg apertures and side flaps on each web while the advancing overlapped webs are continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: William P. Niedermeyer
  • Patent number: 5895540
    Abstract: A linerless double-backed adhesive tape structure is disclosed. In one embodiment the tape has three tape strips each with an adhesive coated surface and an adhesive free surface. Two of the strips are joined to a center strip along its lateral edges with the adhesive coated surfaces of the two strips overlapping and adhered to the adhesive coated surface of the center strip. Also disclosed is a method of unitizing and sealing a plurality of containers. In one embodiment a double-backed adhesive tape structure is adhered to each of the containers and the containers are stacked together with the exposed adhesive side of the tape on each container adhered to the exposed adhesive side of the tape on an adjacent container. Finally, an apparatus for dispensing the double-backed adhesive tape of the present invention is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John Richard David, Dee Lynn Johnson, Kenneth Francis Knoll, Curtis Larson, Graham Edward Thoms, Raymond Daniel Zachrison
  • Patent number: 5858147
    Abstract: A method of making a reinforcing fabric having wide angles between the warp yarns and the weft yarns by helically folding on itself a strip of fabric which has been skewed such that the angle .alpha. between the warp yarns and the weft yarns is from 100.degree. to 140.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Larry Dean Goettsch
  • Patent number: 5853528
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing laminates are arranged for forming a laminate block by sequentially folding back continuous metal sheets 3 and 4 drawn through outlets 16 out of rolls 5 and 6 of the sheets wound on reels 1 and 2, with synthetic resin sheet members 9 and interlayers 10 alternately interposed between the metal sheets, into multiple stages, and pressing the thus stacked laminate block while electrically heating the continuous metal sheets 3 and 4 in the laminate block, wherein the stacking is performed while keeping the continuous metal sheets 3 and 4 in tension between the outlets 16 of the reels 1 and 2 and each end edge of the laminate block 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Marsushita Electric Works. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Maeda, Kazushi Kawamura, Takeshi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5840143
    Abstract: A method of making an identification card by advancing a continuous web having a first side and a second side along a predetermined path and coating a first portion of the first side with a release agent. The first portion and a second portion of the first side are then coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, the second portion being adjacent to the first portion and about the same size as the first portion. Next, a sheet of clear plastic is adhered to the adhesive so that the plastic overlays the first and second portions. The plastic sheet and the web are then perforated or die cut around the outer periphery of the first and second portions. The web is also perforated or die cut between the first and second portions. Next, only the first portion of the web is then removed from the plastic sheet and the second portion of the web to expose one-half of the plastic sheet and the adhesive thereon while maintaining the entire second portion with the plastic sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Champion Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger W. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5795433
    Abstract: The machine of the present invention manufactures low-cost garments out of two plys of web material, preferably nonwoven material. It includes a pair of feeder mechanisms to supply two separate sheets of the web material through cutter mechanisms where the webs are cut into shapes suitable for the desired garment. The shapes of one sheet are larger than the shapes of the other sheet. The sheet with the larger shape is placed on a carrier, and the sheet with the smaller shape is placed thereupon. As the combined sheets are moved by the carrier, a plurality of folding mechanisms turns the edges of the larger sheet around the edges of the smaller sheet to create a seam which is subsequently secured, as by adhesives or sewing. The carrier may be either a rotating cylinder or it may move longitudinally. The seams may be created along machine direction lines, cross machine direction lines, or along lines at acute angles to either the direction of movement or perpendicular thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: William P. Niedermeyer
  • Patent number: 5779831
    Abstract: A method for forming an undergarment comprises the steps of transporting a two-dimensional web in a substantially flattened position on a transport device, cutting the web along a transverse edge to form a two-dimensional pre-form, gripping the pre-form adjacent each waist section with a gripping device in four gripping areas, jointly rotating at least the gripping means which hold the gripping areas in the region of the first transverse edge of the pre-form around a first axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to the transverse edges of the pre-form, rotating each gripping device around a respective axis of rotation extending generally parallel to the longitudinal sides of the pre-form to place the sealing areas located along the same longitudinal side in a contacting relationship, joining the superimposed sealing areas in a sealing unit, and releasing the undergarment from the gripping device. The apparatus comprises an umbrella-type mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Christoph Johann Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5772825
    Abstract: A method for forming an undergarment having side seams from a two-dimensional preform comprises the steps of cutting a continuous web along transverse cut lines to form individual preforms; cutting each preform along a leg contour extending along each longitudinal side of the preform in the region of a central section, wherein each leg contour does not touch the respective longitudinal side, thus forming two gripping flaps; gripping the preform at the gripping flaps; pulling the gripping flaps outwardly away from the longitudinal sides such that the preform is doubled over along a transverse centerline and such that sealing areas in the region of back waist sections are placed in a superimposed relationship with sealing areas in the region of front waist sections; mutually connecting the sealing areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Christoph Johann Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5755906
    Abstract: A method of forming a catamenial tampon is disclosed wherein the tampon is useful in preventing premature leakage of body fluid from a woman's vagina and in providing better utilization of the absorbent during use. The method includes the steps of assembling a resilient member and an absorbent to form a structure having a central longitudinal axis X--X. The resilient member can be either aligned with or offset from the central longitudinal axis X--X. The absorbent and the resilient member are rolled or folded up into an elongated softwind which has a first end and a second end. The softwind is folded upon itself such that the first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and the softwind contains at least two folds therebetween. The softwind is then compressed into a pledget having an insertion end and a trailing end. A withdrawal string is secured to the pledget to form a tampon. The withdrawal string facilitates removal of the tampon from the woman's vagina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Michele Achter, Tammy Jo Balzar, Donald George Fox
  • Patent number: 5713128
    Abstract: A method of making a return pad for an electrosurgical system comprises the following steps. A first step includes die cutting an electrically conductive foil on a backing using a rotary press to create a foil blank. A second step includes peeling the conductive foil from around the blank, and leaving the blank on its backing. A third step includes layering electrically conductive gel together with the die cut foil to form a layered sheet. A fourth step includes blanking the return pad from the layered sheet using a rotary die. The rotary die has cutting edges and a die packing material adjacent to at least a portion of the edges. The die packing material compresses the gel prior to cutting. The compression is preferably sufficient to cause elastic deformation in the gel so that the gel retracts after being cut. The retraction of the gel leaves a border around the edge of the pad. The border region helps prevent the possibility of the gel coming into electrical contact with an unintended object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Valleylab Inc
    Inventors: Charles Thomas Schrenk, Douglas Phil Talmage
  • Patent number: 5665186
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a moisture barrier formed of a formable, liquid impermeable material. The moisture barrier defines a basin having a width dimension, a length dimension greater than the width dimension, and a volume. The basin includes a floor having corrugations formed therein parallel to the width dimension. The absorbent article also includes an absorbent assembly disposed within the basin and a liner formed of a liquid permeable material bonded to the moisture barrier and sandwiching the absorbent assembly therebetween. The corrugations permit the absorbent article to bend inwardly, for example to conform to the shape of the wearer, without bunching the moisture barrier along the portions facing the wearer and without substantially stretching or deforming the floor of the moisture barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Datta, Joseph Daniel Coenen, Glenn Alan Mintern, David Wayne Powell
  • Patent number: 5660659
    Abstract: Tabless adhesive fasteners are provided for diapers. In one aspect of the invention, one face of each adhesive fastener is permanently bonded to the diaper assembly proper at an associated permanent-bond area of the diaper assembly proper at one of the two lateral sides of the diaper assembly proper and adjacent the periphery of the diaper assembly proper. The other face of each adhesive fastener is releasably carried by liner or tape protective means carried on an area of the diaper assembly proper which is offset from such associated permanent-bond area. In another aspect of the invention, the adhesive fasteners include an adhesive layer which penetrates the water-permeable inner layer of the diaper assembly proper and adhesively interacts with the water-impermeable outer layer of the diaper assembly proper, whereby such adhesive layer and inner and outer diaper layers cooperate to provide a reinforced fastener base. Each adhesive fastener may comprise two adhesive layers with a carrier layer between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Carol A. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 5637376
    Abstract: Automatic machine (110) for assembly of piles (45) of packages for plastic laminates comprising a feed unit with two carriages (60, 80) each carrying two reels of bands respectively of copper (20, 22) and of insulating material (21, 23), and a hoisting unit (120) for the work table, the pile (45) being formed by causing the carriages (60, 80) to move back and forth cross the work table, the bands (12-15) being held in position by special devices (181, 182) before each stroke made by the carriages (60, 80), there being placed after each bend at 180.degree. of the bands (12-15), alternatingly, an intermediate sheet (30) and a set of sheets (35, 36) of prepreg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Cedal S.R.L.
    Inventor: Bruno Ceraso
  • Patent number: 5620547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shutter for a protective envelope containing a recording disk, having both satisfactory sliding property and satisfactory heat-resisting property. The shutter is formed by folding a laminated sheet having a first layer formed by folding a laminated sheet having high heat-resisting property and a second layer formed of a material having low frictional property so that the first layer forms the outer surface of the shutter and the second layer form the inner surface of the shutter. The first layer of the laminated sheet ensures the shutter satisfactory heat-resisting performance and the second layer of the same ensures the shutter satisfactory sliding performance. A printed layer or an evaporated metal layer may be formed between the first and second layers of the laminated sheet and/or the first and second layers of the laminated sheet may be colored to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5578152
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of tape tab stock that may be used to produce tape tabs for use with disposable absorbent articles, as well as a method for the on-line manufacture of tape tabs that may be manufactured concurrently with the chassis of the absorbent article to which the tape tabs will be attached. The first step is to provide a backing substrate upon which the adhesives of the tape tab can be applied. Once the backing is provided, a pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied to regions of one side of the backing substrate. (The pressure-sensitive adhesive preferably functions as the adhesive used to fasten an element of the absorbent article, such as a front waist region, to another element of the absorbent article, such as a rear waist region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David J. K. Goulait, David W. Cabell
  • Patent number: 5577540
    Abstract: Absorbent articles having side panels that provide inflected barrier cuffs which promote better containment and fit. The absorbent article has a front waist region, a rear waist region, a crotch region and a pair of longitudinal edges. The absorbent article further comprises a chassis including a pair of longitudinally extending side panels, each of the side panels having a front ear flap section; a barrier cuff section having a first end edge located longitudinally inboard of the front ear flap section; a second end edge located in the rear waist region; a proximal edge and a distal edge; spacing means joined with each barrier cuff section; and closing means for securing at least a portion of the barrier cuff section juxtaposed the first end edge to the absorbent article inboard of the proximal edge. The distal edges are unsecured to any underlying structure of the absorbent article in the front and rear waist regions such that the distal edges form the longitudinal edges in the front and rear waist regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: David M. Sageser
  • Patent number: 5501758
    Abstract: A reusable and collapsible container having a collapsed configuration for storage and shipment and an assembled configuration for containing a product. The container is formed from a polymeric sheet and has substantially flat panels, hinges connecting adjacent panels, and releasable fasteners on at least some of the panels for holding the panels in an assembled configuration. The sheet has opposing walls separated by longitudinally extending webs. A portion of the hinges cross the longitudinally extending webs and are formed by hot compression of at least one wall of the sheet. Another portion of the hinges are longitudinally extending and are formed by cold compression of at least one wall of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: North America Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Larry E. Nitardy
  • Patent number: 5492522
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing pop-up action products from a single continuous web of material. A preferred form of the method includes the steps of cutting the web into two separate ribbons, defining a continuous series of predetermined shapes in one of the ribbons, marrying the two separate ribbons so that they are joined to one another at each of the series of predetermined shapes in such a fashion that, after transverse separation into individual pop-up action products, the linear movement of a slide panel member results in the elevational movement of a predetermined "pop-up" shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: The Lehigh Press, Inc.
    Inventor: Sharon Rubar
  • Patent number: 5487809
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing tape tab stock that may be used to produce tape tabs for use with disposable absorbent articles, as well as a method for manufacturing tape tab stock that can be produced on-line and concurrently with the disposable absorbent article to which the tape tabs are joined. The first step in the process is to provide a backing substrate upon which the adhesives of the tape tab can be applied. Once the backing is provided, a pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to regions of one side of the backing substrate. The backing substrate is then slit in a direction parallel to the machine direction and the release surface of a release substrate is placed in contact with the pressure sensitive adhesive, forming a laminate comprising the backing substrate and the release substrate. The release substrate preferably covers the entire surface of the backing substrate upon which pressure sensitive adhesive has been applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David J. K. Goulait, David W. Cabell
  • Patent number: 5443671
    Abstract: An open-end cushioned eyeglass case and method of manufacture wherein the case comprises an outer cover of heat-sealable material and a protective inner cushioning layer, the inner layer having a width and length which are each smaller than the width and length, respectively, of the outer cover. The cover and cushioning layer are assembled in overlying relationship with their top edges flush and are sealed together along those edges. The composite sheet is then folded along its longitudinal axis so that the opposed inner peripheral side and bottom edges of the outer cover are in direct contact and these edges are heat sealed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: Bernard G. Stechler
  • Patent number: 5405473
    Abstract: A method of laminating a customized presentation folder including placing a plastic cover sheet on one cover face of the folder and sealing the bottom of the plastic cover sheet thereon, inserting an insert sheet behind the plastic cover sheet in-between it and the cover face, inverting the folder and urging the folder, bottom first, through a laminator for fabricating a customized presentation folder in which any skinning that occurs on the inside of the folder is hidden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Avant, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger J. Kuhns
  • Patent number: 5376218
    Abstract: A filter comprising a composite sheet bent like a pleat and composed of a laminate of at least two monolayer sheets, in which the bent portions are fusion-welded, is provided in order to improve filtering properties while carrying out the composing and pleating processes in one process. A device for manufacturing the filter is also provided. The device comprises, for example: a pair of star-shaped gear type ribbed rolls engaged with each other for heating the composite sheet to temperatures suitable to fusion-weld the same at the front end of the gear while bending the composite sheet like a pleat having a bent width corresponding to the depth or height of the gear; star-shaped gear type bending roll for further bending the heated composite sheet like a pleat; and a pair of heating plates positioned opposed each other at a distance corresponding to the bent width of the pleat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Mito, Haruo Yuasa, Masayoshi Iidera
  • Patent number: 5344516
    Abstract: A method for forming a skin-contacting topsheet of disposable diaper with an elastic opening, wherein the opening 16 formed in the skin-contacting topsheet of a disposable diaper is elasticized along its whole peripheral edge and reinforced so as to form uniform gathers along the whole peripheral edge.The skin-contacting topsheet comprises a pair of sheet members overlapping side by side and having mutually opposed inner side edges, respectively, which are provided with cutouts so that each pair of mutually opposed cutouts form each opening, then elastic members are provided along halves of the opening's whole peripheral edge and these elastic members are covered with a part of the skin-contacting topsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tanji, Ichiro Wada, Yoshio Ono, Hiroyuki Soga
  • Patent number: 5326411
    Abstract: Belts used in agricultural applications and particularly in round, hay balers have inherent problems created by their predominant process of manufacture. This process often involves cutting a large processed sheet of material into the narrow strips which form the core of the belt. The method disclosed herein produces a belt with a folded edge, a fabric wrapped edge, or an edge that is reinforced with a hard elastomer. These belts have strengthened longitudinal edges and an increased cross-sectional modulus at the edges which alleviates many problems associated with current hay-baler belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Morrison Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale B. Arnold
  • Patent number: 5306512
    Abstract: In a popcorn package for microwave popping, the subsequent popping of popcorn by microwave energy is enhanced by the use of a layer of metallized ink printed on the bag of a popcorn package. The metallized ink contains powdered aluminum and is of a commercial grade but diluted to provide an opacity level of light transmission in the range of 47% to 10%, such layer lying below the charge of popcorn and shortening during popping. The material of the bag comprises a pair of plies with the layer of metallized ink being printed to one of the plies and disposed between the plies of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Bagcraft Corporation of America
    Inventor: Robert H. Blamer
  • Patent number: 5302222
    Abstract: The new dispensing roll of deadfold stickers comprises a length of flexible carrier tape having a low adhesion surface and a multiplicity of flexible deadfold stickers releasably adhered to the low adhesion surface for easy removal therefrom. Each deadfold sticker comprises a laminate of pliable layers and at least two deadfold wires in spaced parallel alignment embedded in the laminate in a direction transverse to the length of the carrier tape. The carrier tape with releasably adhered deadfold stickers is wound upon itself in the dispensing roll. The dispensing roll is used in automatic machinery to form mouth-foldable deadfold reclosable bags; and the preferred reclosures are those having three creases of fold line formed by two folding steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Bedford Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Larsen, Lloyd Tinklenberg
  • Patent number: 5300168
    Abstract: Apparatus for folding a sheet-form material in a zigzag fashion. Lower and upper guide members are provided in opposed relation in a frame. Sheet-form material is placed under tension between the upper and lower guide members. Plural lower up-and-down movable members are arranged at regular intervals on the lower guide member. Plural upper up-and-down movable members are arranged on the upper guide member at regular intervals and at positions alternate with the lower up-and-down movable members. Fold imparting members are arranged respectively at upper ends of lower up-and-down movable members and at lower ends of upper up-and-down movable members. Upper and lower up-and-down movable members are driven to move toward each other, sequentially from one end side of the upper and lower guide members and toward the other end side, to give folds to the sheet-form material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Nakao, Toyofusa Endo, Takeshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 5294279
    Abstract: Two plastic cover sheets, each of which would produce warping upon lamination by heat and pressure, are loosely affixed to a presentation folder paper core sheet to provide a plastic envelope. Graphic indicia bearing insert sheets can be laminated between both sides of the core sheet and the plastic cover sheets to provide an attractive display of the graphic indicia. Manufacturing costs are saved since anti-warpage backing sheets need not be face laminated to substantial areas of the folder sheet. Also, the plastic envelope sold to the user before lamination is not bowed in contrast to the prior art envelope. A security folder which is difficult to compromise, using carbonless paper, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Inventors: Roger J. Kuhns, Robert L. Nathans
  • Patent number: 5294276
    Abstract: A process of making a paint roller with a foldable end comprising the steps of: securing a paint-roller support core to a paint-roller pad and then removing a portion of the core secured to the paint-roller pad. If multiple paint rollers are being made, one cuts the paint-roller pad and support core into multiple segments with the cut ends of the segmented paint-roller pad and core coextensive with each other. Next, one removes a portion of the ends of the support core without removing the paint-roller pad extending over the support core to leave a paint roller with an unsupported free pad end that is folded over the end of the core of the paint roller to provide full corner painting abilities. The paint roller with a covered end can be rotatably mounted on different types of paint-roller frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Padco, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Linn, Wade H. Krinke
  • Patent number: 5279690
    Abstract: A label construction provides for labels applied to a surface that have long life even outdoors, or in conditions where there are dirt or chemicals. The construction includes a first ply of transparent protective material having first and second side sections and first and second faces. A first adhesive is disposed on the first ply first face, and a first release liner, having less affinity for the first adhesive than the transparent protective material, is disposed on the first adhesive covering the first side section of the first ply. A second release liner is disposed on the first adhesive covering the second side section of the first ply. A label ply is disposed over at least a portion of the second release liner on the opposite face from the transparent protective material, and a second adhesive is disposed between the second release liner and the label ply, having a greater affinity for the label ply than the second release liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Hess, Jr., Patricia J. Bulka
  • Patent number: 5274904
    Abstract: Electromagnetic coils of laminated, foil construction are suitable for use in guideways of magnetically-levitated-vehicle systems. The coils are each constructed by applying a double-sided adhesive tape of insulating material to both surfaces of a continuous ribbon of conductive foil to form a tri-layer laminate or matrix. Then, the tri-layer matrix is shaped into a coil of a desired configuration. The coil loops or turns are formed by folding the tri-layer matrix along diagonal fold lines in selected bend regions so as to transpose the top and bottom surfaces of the laminate on either side of the folds, and bring the surface interior of the folds into contact. The insulating material in the laminate is omitted from the interior bend regions, so that, after folds have been made, the interior surfaces in those regions are exposed foil which electrically contact one-another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Proise
  • Patent number: 5226996
    Abstract: The mount for removably supporting art work, photographs and similar articles on a support medium includes an elongated strip of heavyweight, non-acidic paper which has an elongated score line dividing the strip into a stationary section and a foldable section. The stationary section has a film of adhesive covered by a peel-off sheet for securing the stationary section to a support medium. The foldable section is folded over toward the stationary section to form a pocket for firmly receiving a peripheral portion of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Vicki Schober Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Vicki Z. Schober
  • Patent number: 5189769
    Abstract: A method of making a multi-layer non-woven multiple biased fabric is disclosed. A layer of fabric is directed in a longitudinal direction of travel, wherein the layer of fabric is comprised of a plurality of structural fibers oriented substantially parallel to each other and oriented at an angle to the longitudinal center line of the fabric. The layer of fabric may or may not be previously biased. If not previously biased, then the structural yarns of the fabric are biased in a biasing stage to form a layer of single bias structural fabric having the structural fibers biased to the fabric centerline. The single biased fabric layer is led into at least one folding stage for folding the biased layer longitudinally from one edge toward another to form a multiple biased fabric. The multiple biased fabric is led from the at least one folding stage into an affixing stage for affixing the multiple biased fabric together to provide a single structural fabric being multiple biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Bay Mills Limited
    Inventor: Roy Shoesmith
  • Patent number: 5139597
    Abstract: A distinct conveyor assembly allows a business form sealer--such as a pressure sealer--to operate with forms that have been detached from a continuous supply. Individual forms are detached from the continuous supply while being conveyed in a first direction, to form shingled forms having irregularly positioned side edges. The forms are deshingled by conveying them from the detacher at high speed (e.g. an increase in speed of about ten times or more), and they are registered while being conveyed in the first direction at high speed. Registration may take place by moving the forms against one side edge, or moving them between funnelled side edges to ultimately engage straight guides on both side edges. After registration, the forms may be fed directly to the sealer, or into the top of a hopper, and then withdrawn from the bottom of the hopper and passed through a folder before being fed to the sealer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Walter, John E. Traise
  • Patent number: 5080741
    Abstract: Inner members formed by attaching absorbent cores to inner webs longitudinally thereof with predetermined spaces between the cores are folded on themselves along their center lines so that the cores partially lie on a first outer surface and partially lie on a second outer surface opposed to the first outer surface. A pair of continuous outer webs having widths to cover the first and second outer surfaces are provided with elastic members for leg-openings and waist-openings, and attached respectively to the first and second surfaces to form a continuous laminate. Successively the laminate is sealed and cut at predetermined areas, and individual disposable garments are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Nomura, Taiji Shimakawa, Yoshinori Matsura, Hiroki Yamamoto, Hirofumi Ohnishi
  • Patent number: RE34590
    Abstract: Disclosed is an insulated metal door edge guard having a stainless steel body, a PVC cover, and a sheet of colored PVF. The PVC cover is coextruded completely around the metal body in strip form. Then, before the heat of the coextrusion step is lost, the PVF sheet is laminated onto one surface of the PVC cover. The combination is then roll formed into a door edge guard having a base and two legs. The ends of the legs are folded inward to form two beads. The PVC cover has two regions of decreased thickness on the interior of the beads to facilitate the roll forming of the beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Adell Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald R. Schotthoefer