John H Conrad

US Patent:

6588080, Jul 8, 2003

Filed:

Mar 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/537564

Inventors:

James Richard Neely - Alpharetta GA
Edward Jason White - Mauldin SC
Kurtis Lee Brown - Alpharetta GA
John Herbert Conrad - Alpharetta GA
Richard Wallace Hoefer - Boise ID

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

D04H 302

US Classification:

28122, 156181, 156199

Abstract:

A lofty, nonwoven material having a nonwoven web having a plurality of substantially continuous fibers oriented in a z-direction of the nonwoven web and a method for producing the lofty, nonwoven material from as-formed z-direction fibers. The method is fast, having no mechanical manipulation of the fibers to slow it down, easily adjustable and allows for in-line processing. The material can be varied from preponderantly open to preponderantly closed in its web structure.

US Patent:

6635136, Oct 21, 2003

Filed:

Apr 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/841477

Inventors:

Edward Jason White - Mauldin SC
Kurtis Lee Brown - Alpharetta GA
John Herbert Conrad - Alpharetta GA
Robert James Gerndt - Roswell GA
Jose Enrique Maldonado - Alpharetta GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B31F 100

US Classification:

156204, 156227, 156474, 156181, 428181, 428182

Abstract:

A method for producing a material having z-direction ridges or folds in which a layer of continuous fibers is conveyed on a first moving surface into a nip formed by the first moving surface and a second moving surface which is traveling at a slower speed than the first moving surface, resulting in formation of a plurality of z-direction loops in the fibers giving loft to the material and a wave pattern producing ridges on both major surfaces of the resultant nonwoven web. The method permits easy real time adjustment of manufacturing parameters to produce a variety of materials. The method further produces lofty nonwovens at a commercially viable rate.

US Patent:

6867156, Mar 15, 2005

Filed:

Mar 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/538744

Inventors:

Edward Jason White - Mauldin SC, US
Kurtis Lee Brown - Alpharetta GA, US
John Herbert Conrad - Alpharetta GA, US
Robert James Gerndt - Roswell GA, US
Jose Enrique Maldonado - Alpharetta GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B005/02
B32B005/08
B32B003/02
B32B003/26

US Classification:

442334, 442409, 428119, 428 92

Abstract:

A method for producing a material having z-direction waves in which a layer of continuous fibers is conveyed on a first moving surface into a nip formed by the first moving surface and a second moving surface which is traveling at a slower speed than the first moving surface, resulting in formation of a plurality of z-direction loops in the fibers giving loft to the material and a wave pattern producing ridges on both major surfaces of the resultant nonwoven web. The method permits easy real time alignment of manufacturing parameters to produce a variety of materials. The method further produces lofty nonwovens at a commercially viable rate.

US Patent:

6890622, May 10, 2005

Filed:

Dec 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/037451

Inventors:

Gabriel Hamman Adam - Alpharetta GA, US
John Herbert Conrad - Alpharetta GA, US
Robert G. Geer - Canton GA, US
Eric Edward Lennon - Roswell GA, US
Sridhar Ranganathan - Suwanee GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B007/02

US Classification:

428171, 428172, 428218, 442417, 442327

Abstract:

An in-line formed, non-laminated web is suitable for use as a composite fluid distribution and fluid retention layer in a disposable absorbent article. The web can be formed by selective deposition of airlaid materials including absorbents, such as pulp and superabsorbents, together with binder fibers. The web so constructed will have a plurality of intermingled lower basis weight areas and higher basis weight areas coexisting and distributed in at least a central region of the web, the alternations crossing the X axis or Y axis, or both, of the web, with the higher basis weight areas being a greater thickness in the Z-direction than the lower basis weight areas. The web so constructed will further have no discrete material boundaries between the lower basis weight stripes and the higher basis weight stripes. Further the necessity of later processing on the web to achieve a ridged structure is removed and the fibers will remain whole and undisturbed. The selective vacuum manipulation in conjunction with multiple fiber deposition heads, and appropriate timing of fiber addition therefrom, will yield a variety of useful composite webs having multiple layers thereby forming an economical single web which may be easily incorporated into an absorbent garment or article.

US Patent:

6998164, Feb 14, 2006

Filed:

Jun 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/463945

Inventors:

James Richard Neely - Alpharetta GA, US
Edward Jason White - Mauldin SC, US
Kurtis Lee Brown - Alpharetta GA, US
John Herbert Conrad - Alpharetta GA, US
Richard Wallace Hoefer - Boise ID, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 3/26
B32B 33/00

US Classification:

428 86, 428 92, 428 93

Abstract:

A lofty, nonwoven material having a nonwoven web having a plurality of substantially continuous fibers oriented in a z-direction of the nonwoven web and a method for producing the lofty, nonwoven material from as-formed z-direction fibers. The method is fast, having no mechanical manipulation of the fibers to slow it down, easily adjustable and allows for in-line processing. The material can be varied from preponderantly open to preponderantly closed in its web structure.

US Patent:

7879747, Feb 1, 2011

Filed:

Mar 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/694190

Inventors:

John H. Conrad - Alpharetta GA, US
Patrick Payne - Lithonia GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 5/16
B32B 37/00
A61F 13/15

US Classification:

442417, 442328, 442329, 442394, 428323, 428327, 4284022, 156145, 60438501, 60438524, 60438525, 60438526, 6043853

Abstract:

An elastic laminate having fragrance releasing microcapsules embedded within a nonwoven web layer of the laminate is generally disclosed. The elastic laminate is configured to release the encapsulated fragrance upon stretching the laminate. The elastic laminate can continue to release fresh fragrance even after the first stretching force is applied, effectively extending the life of the elastic laminate. The resulting elastic laminate is useful for many applications, and is particularly useful in the construction of an absorbent article.

US Patent:

7989062, Aug 2, 2011

Filed:

Apr 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

12/091834

Inventors:

Jayant Chakravarty - Woodbury MN, US
Vasily Topolkaraev - Appleton WI, US
John Herbert Conrad - Alpharetta GA, US
Stephen Avedis Baratian - Roswell GA, US
Jared L. Martin - Cumming GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

D02G 3/00
D04H 1/00
D04H 13/00

US Classification:

428373, 442361, 442362, 442364

Abstract:

A biodegradable nonwoven web comprising substantially continuous multicomponent filaments is provided. The filaments comprise a first component and a second component. The first component contains at least one high-melting point aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 160 C. to about 250 C. and the second component contains at least one low-melting point aliphatic polyester. The melting point of the low-melting point aliphatic polyester is at least about 30 C. less than the melting point of the high-melting point aliphatic polyester. The low-melting point aliphatic polyester has a number average molecular weight of from about 30,000 to about 120,000 Daltons, a glass transition temperature of less than about 25 C. , and an apparent viscosity of from about 50 to about 215 Pascal-seconds, as determined at a temperature of 160 C. and a shear rate of 1000 sec.

US Patent:

8246898, Aug 21, 2012

Filed:

Mar 19, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/725593

Inventors:

John H. Conrad - Alpharetta GA, US
Eric E. Lennon - Roswell GA, US
Douglas J. Hulslander - Atlanta GA, US
Joerg Hendrix - Alpharetta GA, US
Detlef Frey - Niederkassel, DE

International Classification:

B29C 47/00
B28C 5/00

US Classification:

264555, 264103, 264518, 264121, 4241748 R, 424 811, 424 831

Abstract:

A method and associated apparatus for melt extruding a nonwoven web includes providing a plurality of fibers from an extrusion device. The fibers are conveyed through a diverging profile portion of a fiber drawing unit (FDU) that causes the fibers to spread and expand in the machine direction within the FDU. The fibers are then conveyed through a diverging diffusion chamber spaced from the outlet of the FDU to reduce the velocity of the fibers and further spread the fibers in the machine direction. The fibers may be subjected to an applied electrostatic charge in either the diffusion chamber or the FDU. From the outlet of the diffusion chamber, the fibers are laid onto a forming surface as a nonwoven web.