Robert G Geer

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:

20030118764, Jun 26, 2003

Filed:

Dec 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/037450

Inventors:

Ricky Adams - Cumming GA, US
Leon Chambers - Marietta GA, US
Robert Geer - Canton GA, US
Lamar Gipson - Acworth GA, US
Eric Lennon - Roswell GA, US
Lewis Nicholson - Atlanta GA, US
Sridhar Ranganathan - Suwanee GA, US
James Sanders - Cumming GA, US
Jerome Schwalen - Marietta GA, US
Richard Dodge - Appleton WI, US
Lawrence Sawyer - Neenah WI, US

International Classification:

B32B001/08

US Classification:

428/036910, 428/036900

Abstract:

An in-line formed web having major surfaces in the X-Y plane and a depth in the Z direction is suitable for use as a composite fluid distribution and fluid retention layer in a disposable absorbent article. The web contains multiple layers of composite material which may have both thermoplastic fibers and absorbent material. The multiple layers can have different compositions of thermoplastic fibers and absorbent material as applied in-line by various arrangements of thermoplastic melt dies and absorbent fiber dispensers. By arranging at least two of the multiple layers in an opposing relation overlaid in the Z-axis direction of the web, a gradient can be formed in the Z-direction of the web. By coordinating the timing and deposition of the material onto a forming wire, at least one of the multiple layers is arranged to have zones of intermittent material deposition in at least one of a machine direction or a cross direction of the web. Thus the in-line formed composite web has a Z-direction gradient of air laid material layers and zones of different material layers intermittently placed in one of the machine direction or the cross direction and may be customized according to the specific need for a single composite structure having fluid intake, distribution and retention properties in an absorbent article.

US Patent:

49614150, Oct 9, 1990

Filed:

Jan 16, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/003980

Inventors:

Fred R. Radwanski - Norcross GA
Donald F. Durocher - Roswell GA
Leon E. Chambers - Roswell GA
Loyd G. Kasbo - Norcross GA
William F. Cartwright - Roswell GA
Robert G. Geer - Woodstock GA
Edward P. Bullwinkel - Roswell GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A24D 306
A24D 304

US Classification:

131332

Abstract:

Nonwoven web comprising thermoplastic meltblown fibers or filaments predominantly present as agglomerates or multiple fused fiber areas. Such agglomerates in the web act as columns and impart a desired degree of strength and resistance to compaction. In contrast to prior art webs where such agglomerates have been considered undesirable, the webs of the present invention find particular utility when formed into cylinders as filter plugs for smoking articles. In smoking articles of the invention, the filter plugs have a desired pressure drop while demonstrating an unexpected degree of firmness, all at an economically attractive cost. Preferred embodiments include those where the machine direction strength to cross machine direction grab tensile ratios in the range of from about 1:1 to 4:1 and the fibers or filaments are made from polypropylene. Other embodiments include webs and filter plugs containing additives distributed throughout the web.

US Patent:

52693295, Dec 14, 1993

Filed:

Jul 9, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/549868

Inventors:

Robert G. Geer - Canton GA
Thomas L. Fillio - Roswell GA
Loyd G. Kasbo - Norcross GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A24F 300
A24F 302

US Classification:

131332

Abstract:

There is disclosed a method of adding flavorant to cigarette filters. A cigarette filter is made by forming a filter web using non-woven web comprising thermoplastic meltblown fibers of filaments that are present as fused agglomerates in a number fraction exceeding 33 percent and wherein a majority of fiber crossings of agglomerates are weld points; adding tobacco extracts to the filter web such that the filter web contains between 10% and 110% tobacco extracts by weight of the filter web; adding glycerin or a glycerin-water mixture to the thus treated filter web; and forming the thus treated filter web into a rod.

US Patent:

55380190, Jul 23, 1996

Filed:

Nov 3, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/148078

Inventors:

Edward P. Bullwinkel - Roswell GA
Leon E. Chambers - Cumming GA
Robert G. Geer - Canton GA

Assignee:

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

A24D 104

US Classification:

131331

Abstract:

A filter made from a nonwoven spunbond web comprising a plurality of continuous intertwined filaments, each filament having a diameter of about 25 to about 100 microns, predominantly present in the web as loop springs having diameters of about 1 to 3 millimeters. The web is made from a plurality of spunbond filaments laid randomly onto a moving belt. The webs of the present invention find particular utility when formed into cylinders as filters for smoking articles. In the smoking articles, the filters of the invention have a desirable degree of firmness while demonstrating an acceptable pressure drop.

US Patent:

57327181, Mar 31, 1998

Filed:

Aug 23, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/294701

Inventors:

Annmarie Veronica Douglas - Norcross GA
Robert Gillette Geer - Canton GA
Benji Dawn Morgan - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

A24B 1500
A24B 1542
A24D 304
A24D 306

US Classification:

131342

Abstract:

Disclosed is a filter for tobacco smoke composed of at least one layer of a wet-formed absorbent fibrous nonwoven composite structure containing: 1) from about 30 to about 65 percent, by weight, of pulp fibers forming a matrix having a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface; and 2) about 35 to about 70 percent, by weight, of activated carbon integrated into the matrix of pulp fibers such that the concentration of activated carbon adjacent the first exterior surface is at least about 60 percent, as determined by optical image analysis, and the concentration of activated carbon adjacent the second exterior surface is less than about 40 percent, as determined by optical image analysis, so that the filter is adapted to selectively reduce the C. sub. 3 -C. sub. 4 carbonyl component of conventional tobacco smoke at least about 25 percent more than a conventional cellulose acetate filter for an identical tobacco smoke. Also disclosed is a method of making the filter.

US Patent:

49037145, Feb 27, 1990

Filed:

Aug 25, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/089692

Inventors:

Russell D. Barnes - Belews Creek NC
Gary R. Shelar - Greensboro NC
Edward P. Bullwinkel - Roswell GA
William F. Cartwright - Roswell GA
Leon E. Chambers - Roswell GA
Donald F. Durocher - Roswell GA
Robert G. Geer - Woodstock GA
Loyd G. Kasbo - Norcross GA
Fred R. Radwanski - Norcross GA

Assignee:

R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A24D 100
A24D 304

US Classification:

131335

Abstract:

The present invention relates to smoking articles having an improved mouthend piece. More specifically, it relates to cigarette-type smoking articles comprising a fuel element, a physically separate aerosol generating means including an aerosol forming material, and means for delivering the aerosol produced by the aerosol generating means to the user in the form of a mouthend piece, the mouthend piece including a nonwoven web segment formed from meltblown thermoplastic fibers or filaments, and a spacer member located between the aerosol generating means and the non woven web segment.

US Patent:

56699000, Sep 23, 1997

Filed:

Nov 3, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/333803

Inventors:

Edward Paul Bullwinkel - Roswell GA
Leon Eugene Chambers - Cumming GA
Robert Gillette Geer - Canton GA
Jay Sheldon Shultz - Roswell GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Irving TX

International Classification:

A61F 1315

US Classification:

604391

Abstract:

A loop material for a hook and loop fastening system composed of: 1) a backing material; and 2) a layer of a nonwoven spunbond web attached to the backing material, the nonwoven spunbond web comprising a plurality of continuous intertwined filaments, each having a diameter of about 25 to about 100 microns, the plurality of filaments laid randomly to define a plurality of intertwined loop springs, each having a diameter of about 0. 5 to about 3 millimeters.