Yong F Li

US Patent:

6383960, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Mar 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/519045

Inventors:

Rob David Everett - Appleton WI
Thomas Gerald Bolwerk - Appleton WI
Violet May Grube - Greenville WI
Yong Li - Appleton WI
Debra Jean McDowall - Neenah WI
Shannon Kathleen Melius - Appleton WI
Lawrence Howell Sawyer - Neenah WI
David Louis Zenker - Neenah WI
Xiaomin Zhang - Appleton WI
Sylvia Bandy Little - Marietta GA
Billie Jean Matthews - Woodstock GA
Sridhar Ranganathan - Suwanee GA
Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz - Woodstock GA
Kuo-Shu Edward Chang - Charlotte NC

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 2712

US Classification:

442394, 442381, 442317, 442412, 442413, 442389

Abstract:

A distinctive absorbent article includes an absorbent core having multiple absorbent layers, wherein the absorbent layers interact in such a manner which preferentially locates absorbed liquid in an appointed, high saturation wicking layer. The localization of the liquid within this wicking layer increases the potential of this layer to move liquid through capillary action due to the higher saturation level and increased amount of liquid available. The intake capability of the absorbent system is maintained or improved over current systems by keeping a second layer of the absorbent system at low saturation levels through as many insults of the product as possible, while providing optimum intake performance through appropriate control of the composite properties. The low saturation in this layer provides void volume for the incoming insult as well, as a high permeability, thus increasing the intake rate of the absorbent system as a whole, but the structure of the low saturation layer is also balanced to provide an appropriately high level of capillary tension to provide enough control of the liquid to stop leakage from occurring. This low saturation layer is used in addition to a surge material and provides intake functionality in addition to that provided by the surge material.

US Patent:

6437214, Aug 20, 2002

Filed:

Jan 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/478686

Inventors:

Rob David Everett - Appleton WI
Thomas Gerald Bolwerk - Appleton WI
Violet May Grube - Greenville WI
Yong Li - Appleton WI
Debra Jean McDowall - Neenah WI
Shannon Kathleen Melius - Appleton WI
Lawrence Howell Sawyer - Neenah WI
David Louis Zenker - Neenah WI
Xiaomin Zhang - Appleton WI
Sylvia Bandy Little - Marietta GA
Billie Jean Matthews - Woodstock GA
Sridhar Ranganathan - Suwanee GA
Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz - Woodstock GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1315

US Classification:

604378

Abstract:

A distinctive absorbent article includes an absorbent core having multiple absorbent layers, wherein the absorbent layers interact in such a manner which preferentially locates absorbed liquid in an appointed, high saturation wicking layer. The localization of the liquid within this wicking layer increases the potential of this layer to move liquid through capillary action due to the higher saturation level and increased amount of liquid available. The intake capability of the absorbent system is maintained or improved over current systems by keeping a second layer of the absorbent system at low saturation levels through as many insults of the product as possible, while providing optimum intake performance through appropriate control of the composite properties. The low saturation in this layer provides void volume for the incoming insult as well, as a high permeability, thus increasing the intake rate of the absorbent system as a whole, but the structure of the low saturation layer is also balanced to provide an appropriately high level of capillary tension to provide enough control of the liquid to stop leakage from occurring. This low saturation layer is used in addition to a surge material and provides intake functionality in addition to that provided by the surge material.

US Patent:

6469130, Oct 22, 2002

Filed:

Jul 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/626014

Inventors:

Jian Qin - Appleton WI
Yong Li - Appleton WI
Wendy Lynn Van Dyke - Neenah WI
Anthony John Wisneski - Kimberly WI
Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet - Wauwatosa WI
Hannong Rhim - Wauwatosa WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

C08G 7310

US Classification:

528310, 528170, 528322, 428357, 428364, 428394, 428395, 442 49, 442 50, 442 59, 442 62, 442327, 442333

Abstract:

A nonwoven web and method of preparing a novel nonwoven web of synthetic fiber are disclosed. An aqueous solution amide crosslinked synthetic precursor polymer is extruded under defined conditions through a plurality of die orifices to form a plurality of threadlines. The threadlines are attenuated with a defined primary gaseous source to form fiber under conditions of controlled macro scale turbulence and under conditions sufficient to permit the viscosity of each threadline, as it leaves a die orifice and for a distance of no more than about 8 cm, to increase incrementally with increasing distance from the die, while substantially maintaining uniformity of viscosity in the radial direction, at a rate sufficient to provide fiber having,the desired attenuation and mean fiber diameter without significant fiber breakage. The attenuated threadlines are dried with a defined secondary gaseous source. The resulting fibers are deposited randomly on a moving foraminous surface to form a substantially uniform web.

US Patent:

6533978, Mar 18, 2003

Filed:

Aug 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/631492

Inventors:

Anthony John Wisneski - Kimberly WI
Yong Li - Appleton WI
Michael Franklin Kalmon - Atoka TN

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B27N 304

US Classification:

264113, 425 811

Abstract:

An apparatus and process for forming an absorbent web ( ) includes an airlaying of a first fibrous stratum ( ) which has a first quantity of absorbent fibers; an airlaying of a second fibrous stratum ( ) which has a second quantity of absorbent fibers; and an airlaying of a third, intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) which has a third quantity of absorbent fibers. The intermediate fibrous stratum has a location that is interposed between the first fibrous stratum and the second fibrous stratum. A liquid, wet-strength agent is distributed onto the fibers of the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) during the airlaying of the intermediate fibrous stratum to thereby render the intermediate fibrous stratum substantially non-dispersible. The process and apparatus are configured to operatively form or join the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) with at least the first fibrous stratum ( ), and in desired aspects, the invention can integrally form or join the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) with both of the first and second fibrous strata ( ) and ( ), respectively. In a particular aspect, the invention can configure the first and second fibrous strata ( ) and ( ) to be substantially dispersible in an aqueous liquid, and in a further aspect, the composite strata of the web ( ) can be operatively compressed prior to a curing of the wet-strength agent.

US Patent:

6533989, Mar 18, 2003

Filed:

Aug 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/632253

Inventors:

Anthony John Wisneski - Kimberly WI
Yong Li - Appleton WI
Michael Franklin Kalmon - Atoka TN

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B27N 304

US Classification:

264510, 425 811

Abstract:

An apparatus and process for forming an absorbent web ( ) includes an airlaying of a first fibrous stratum ( ), and an airlaying of an intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) onto the first fibrous stratum. A liquid, wet-strength agent is distributed onto fibers of the intermediate fibrous stratum, and at least a second fibrous stratum ( ) is airlaid onto the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ). The method is desirably configured to operatively form or join the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) with the first and second fibrous strata, and render the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) substantially non-dispersible in an aqueous liquid. In a particular aspect, the strata of the web ( ) can be operatively compressed prior to curing the wet-strength agent. In another aspect, the liquid wet-strength agent can be distributed onto the fibers of the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) during an airlaying of the intermediate fibrous stratum.

US Patent:

6603054, Aug 5, 2003

Filed:

Apr 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/842470

Inventors:

Fung-jou Chen - Appleton WI
Jeffrey Dean Lindsay - Appleton WI
Jian Qin - Appleton WI
Yong Li - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1315

US Classification:

604369, 210508, 210509, 4283105, 42831157, 42831171, 4283171, 4283175, 4283177, 4283179, 604374, 604904

Abstract:

Disclosed is a fibrous absorbent structure that is wet stable and has large void volume with a density below the critical density of the fiber employed. In one embodiment, the fibrous absorbent uses open-celled foam technologies to keep the fibrous structure expanded and bonded. In other embodiments, the resulting fibrous structure resembles an open-celled polymeric foam, with fibers serving as struts stabilized by binder material. In another embodiment, the resulting fibrous structure is filled with hydrophilic open-celled foams with the cell size substantially smaller than the fibrous pores. Such a wet-stable, high void volume fibrous absorbent can be used in a disposable product intended for the absorption of fluid such as body fluid, including extensible absorbent articles.

US Patent:

6608237, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

Aug 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/631494

Inventors:

Yong Li - Appleton WI
Wendy Lynn Van Dyke - Appleton WI
Gary Douglas Williams - Neenah WI
Anthony John Wisneski - Kimberly WI
Bernhardt Edward Kressner - Appleton WI
Sridhar Ranganathan - Suwanee GA
Michael Franklin Kalmon - Atoka TN

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1314

US Classification:

604382, 604364

Abstract:

An absorbent article ( ) includes a backsheet layer ( ), a liquid permeable topsheet layer ( ), and an absorbent body ( ) sandwiched between the backsheet and topsheet layers. The absorbent body ( ) includes a first fibrous stratum ( ) having a first quantity of absorbent fibers, a second fibrous stratum ( ) having a second quantity of absorbent fibers, and at least a third fibrous stratum ( ) which is located between and integrally formed with the first and second fibrous strata ( ). In particular aspects, the third fibrous stratum ( ) includes an operative quantity of a substantially hydrophilic, wet-strength agent. In other aspects, the wet-strength agent is distributed in the third quantity of absorbent fibers to render the third fibrous stratum ( ) substantially non-dispersible.

US Patent:

6620503, Sep 16, 2003

Filed:

Mar 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/087367

Inventors:

Jian Qin - Appleton WI
Yong Li - Appleton WI
Wendy Lynn Van Dyke - Neenah WI
Anthony John Wisneski - Kimberly WI
Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet - Wauwatosa WI
Hannong Rhim - Wauwatosa WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

C08G 7310

US Classification:

428357, 428364, 428394, 428395, 442 49, 442 50, 442 59, 528170, 528322, 528310

Abstract:

A nonwoven web and method of preparing a novel nonwoven web of synthetic fiber are disclosed. An aqueous solution amide crosslinked synthetic precursor polymer is extruded under defined conditions through a plurality of die orifices to form a plurality of threadlines. The threadlines are attenuated with a defined primary gaseous source to form fiber under conditions of controlled macro scale turbulence and under conditions sufficient to permit the viscosity of each threadline, as it leaves a die orifice and for a distance of no more than about 8 cm, to increase incrementally with increasing distance from the die, while substantially maintaining uniformity of viscosity in the radial direction, at a rate sufficient to provide fiber having the desired attenuation and mean fiber diameter without significant fiber breakage. The attenuated threadlines are dried with a defined secondary gaseous source. The resulting fibers are deposited randomly on a moving foraminous surface to form a substantially uniform web.