Linda E Connor

US Patent:

6368689, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Jul 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/349308

Inventors:

Linda A. Connor Sledge - Atlanta GA
Tammy L. Baum - Neenah WI
John R. Hanson - Appleton WI
Donald E. Waldroup - Roswell GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 310

US Classification:

428 43

Abstract:

A rolled web of centerflow material, such as paper or non-woven material includes perforation lines separating the material into individual wipes or sheets. Each perforation line comprises a varying perforation profile defined by opposite edge portions and a middle portion having generally the same bond strengths, and intermediate portions between the edge and middle portions having a different bond strength. This perforation profile is effective in reducing dispensing defects, and particularly streaming/roping defects. Alternatively, the perforation line may have stronger edge portions adjacent at lest one weaker middle portion.

US Patent:

56520514, Jul 29, 1997

Filed:

Feb 27, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/395218

Inventors:

Susan Elaine Shawver - Roswell GA
Paul Windsor Estey - Cumming GA
Linda Ann Connor - Roswell GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Irving TX

International Classification:

B32B 2700

US Classification:

442362

Abstract:

There is disclosed fibers and fabrics formed from a polymer which is a "hand enhancing" polymer. The "hand enhancing" polymer is a copolymer of polypropylene which contains ethylene, 1-butene, or 1-hexene or a terpolymer of propylene, ethylene and butene. If the polymer is an ethylene copolymer, the copolymer may be random or random and block and the ethylene must be present in an amount between greater than 5 and 7. 5 weight percent of the copolymer. If the copolymer contains 1-butene, it must be present in an amount between 1 and 15. 4 weight percent of the copolymer. If the copolymer contains 1-hexene, it must be present in an amount between 2 and 5 weight percent of the copolymer. If the polymer is a terpolymer of propylene, ethylene and butylene, the polypropylene is present in an amount between 90 and 98 weight percent, the ethylene is present in an amount between 1 and 6 weight percent and the butylene is present in an amount between 1 and 6 weight percent. The fibers may additionally have a second polymer adjacent the first polymer in a sheath/core, islands-in-the-sea or side-by-side conjugate orientation.

US Patent:

56724152, Sep 30, 1997

Filed:

Nov 30, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/565328

Inventors:

Lawrence Howell Sawyer - Roswell GA
Linda Ann Connor - Roswell GA
Samuel Edward Marmon - Alpharetta GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Irving TX

International Classification:

B32B 702

US Classification:

428219

Abstract:

The present invention provides a lofty nonwoven web containing pneumatically drawn filaments, wherein the web has a density from about 0. 01 g/cc to about 0. 075 g/cc and the microfilaments have a weight-per-unit length between about 0. 1 dtex and about 1. 5 dtex. The invention also provides a process for producing the lofty nonwoven web.

US Patent:

54259878, Jun 20, 1995

Filed:

Oct 6, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/319184

Inventors:

Susan E. Shawver - Roswell GA
Linda A. Connor - Atlanta GA
Paul W. Estey - Cumming GA
Jay S. Shultz - Roswell GA
David C. Strack - Canton GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 2700

US Classification:

428284

Abstract:

A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance and comparable strength and softness properties. The thermoplastic elastomeric copolymer is preferably A-B-A' block copolymer wherein A and A' are each a thermoplastic endblock which includes a styrenic moiety and wherein B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) mid block. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.

US Patent:

48791709, Nov 7, 1989

Filed:

Mar 18, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/170196

Inventors:

Fred R. Radwanski - Norcross GA
Lloyd E. Trimble - Dustin OK
Roland C. Smith - Gainesville GA
Linda A. Connor - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 104

US Classification:

428233

Abstract:

Nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web material, including absorbent webs and fabric web material, and methods of forming the same, are disclosed. The elastomeric web material is a hydraulically entangled coform or admixture of (1) meltblown fibers, such as elastic meltblown fibers and (2) pulp fibers and/or staple fibers and/or meltblown fibers and/or continuous filaments, with or without particulate material; such coform can be hydraulically entangled by itself or with other materials, including, e. g. , super absorbent particulate material. The use of meltblown fibers facilitates the hydraulic entangling, resulting in a high degree of entanglement and enabling the use of shorter staple or pulp fibers. The hydraulic entangling technique provides a nonwoven fibrous elastic material having increased web strength and integrity, and allows for better control of other product attributes, such as absorbency, wet strength and abrasion resistance. A smooth surfaced and/or highly absorbent elastic web material, with isotropic strength and recovery in both machine- and cross-directions, can be provided according to the present invention.

US Patent:

49313550, Jun 5, 1990

Filed:

Mar 18, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/170208

Inventors:

Fred R. Radwanski - Norcross GA
Lloyd E. Trimble - Dustin OK
Leon E. Chambers - Roswell GA
Linda A. Connor - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

B32B 516

US Classification:

428283

Abstract:

Nonwoven fibrous non-elastic webs, reinforced nonwoven fibrous non-elastic webs and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The nonwoven fibrous non-elastic webs are a hydraulically entangled coform or admixture of non-elastic meltblown fibers and fibrous material, with or without particulate material. The fibrous material (e. g. , non-elastic fibrous material) can be at least one of pulp fibers, staple fibers, meltblown fibers and continuous filaments. The use of meltblown fibers facilitates the hydraulic entangling, resulting in a high degree of entanglement and enabling the more effective use of shorter fibrous material. The hydraulic entangling technique provides a nonwoven fibrous material having increased web strength and allows for better control of other product attributes, such as absorbency, wet strength, printability and abrasion resistance. The coform can be hydraulically entangled with a reinforcing material, e. g. , a melt-spun nonwoven, a scrim, screen, net, etc.

US Patent:

54056829, Apr 11, 1995

Filed:

Aug 26, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/935769

Inventors:

Susan E. Shawyer - Roswell GA
Linda A. Connor - Atlanta GA
Paul W. Estey - Cumming GA
Jay S. Shultz - Roswell GA
David C. Strack - Canton GA

Assignee:

Kimberly Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

D03D 300

US Classification:

428221

Abstract:

A nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands includes a blend of a polyolefin and elastomeric thermoplastic material in one side or the sheath of the multicomponent polymeric strands. The fabric has improved abrasion resistance and comparable strength and softness properties. The thermoplastic elastomeric copolymer is preferably A-B-A' block copolymer wherein A and A' are each a thermoplastic endblock which includes a styrenic moiety and wherein B is an elastomeric poly(ethylene-butylene) mid block. Composite materials including such multicomponent material bonded to both sides of an inner meltblown layer are also disclosed.

US Patent:

57981671, Aug 25, 1998

Filed:

Aug 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/845131

Inventors:

Linda Ann Connor - Atlanta GA
Peter Maddern - Clwyd, GB

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A41D 3102
B32B 526
B32B 514
B32B 704

US Classification:

428171

Abstract:

There is disclosed a thermally bonded spunbond web of thermoplastic filaments and a nonwoven fabric laminate comprising an internal layer of meltblown thermoplastic microfibers sandwiched between two layers of spunbond thermoplastic filaments. The spunbond web and the spunbond layers of the fabric laminate consist of thermoplastic filaments which are formed from a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer and an effective amount of a nucleating agent. The layers are bonded by thermal spot bonding. In the preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic polymer is polypropylene with a melt-flow rate of at 230. degree. C. of or greater than 12 grams per ten minutes. Also in the preferred embodiment, the nucleating agent constitutes from about 0. 1 to 0. 3 percent by weight of the mixture of polypropylene and nucleating agent. The nucleating agents that are useful include dibenzylidene sorbitol, di(methylbenzylidene) sorbitol, bis (p-ethylbenzylidene) sorbitol and hydrophobic, fumed silica having particle sizes up to 1 micron in diameter.