David H Midkiff

US Patent:

7642208, Jan 5, 2010

Filed:

Dec 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/638862

Inventors:

Jeffrey Lawrence McManus - Canton GA, US
David Grant Midkiff - Alpharetta GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 5/26
D04H 1/00

US Classification:

442382, 442381, 442361, 442362, 442363, 442364, 442365, 4282967

Abstract:

A composite polymeric material is provided that may be used to construct an abrasion resistant layer or sheet such as an abrasion resistant meltblown layer. Desirably, the composite polymeric material comprises blends of syndiotactic and isotactic polypropylene with ferroelectric materials. The composite polymeric material is particularly useful for constructing a filter media comprising an abrasion resistant fine fiber layer such as a nonwoven layer. The composite polymeric material of the present invention also allows for electret treatment to improve its filtration characteristics.

US Patent:

20030045192, Mar 6, 2003

Filed:

Aug 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/944435

Inventors:

David Midkiff - Alpharetta GA, US
Michael Gross - Atlanta GA, US
Billy Arnold - Alpharetta GA, US
Sandy Tan - Roswell GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide

International Classification:

B32B003/06
B32B005/02
B32B009/00
D06N007/04

US Classification:

442/103000, 442/340000, 442/417000, 442/381000, 442/149000, 428/152000

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a composite structure which is capable of use as a filter medium and a method for producing the same. The composite structure contains at least a first nonwoven layer, said first layer having a first surface and a second surface, as well as a rigidifying or stiffening component. The rigidifying component is applied in semi-molten state to the one surface of the nonwoven layer and provides sufficient stiffness and/or resilience to the composite such that the composite is self-pleatable yet retains flexibility. The rigidifying or stiffening component may be filaments of a polymer or polymer blend or alternatively the rigidifying or stiffening component may also be a wax or wax blend.

US Patent:

20100326902, Dec 30, 2010

Filed:

Jun 29, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/493276

Inventors:

David Grant Midkiff - Alpharetta GA, US
Heather M. Richmond - Rosewell GA, US
Nina Frazier - Mableton GA, US

International Classification:

B01D 39/16
D04H 13/00

US Classification:

210490, 4284111, 428523

Abstract:

The present invention provides a multilayer web having at least a first layer and a second layer. The second layer attached to the first layer and the second layer comprising fibers produced from polymeric composition comprising a blend of a thermoplastic polymeric component and a functionalized polymeric component. The functionalized polymeric component is at least 26% by weight of the polymeric components of the second layer. The multilayer web is particularly suited for filtration media.

US Patent:

57077355, Jan 13, 1998

Filed:

Mar 18, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/617005

Inventors:

David Grant Midkiff - Alpharetta GA
Samuel Edward Marmon - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

D02G 300

US Classification:

428373

Abstract:

A conjugate multilobal fiber and a fabric made therefrom is provided. The fiber comprises at least two polymers arranged with at least one polymer occupying a portion of the fiber and at least one other polymer having a lower melting point than the first portion polymer occupying an outer portion of the fiber. The polymers can be arranged in a number of configurations depending on the planned use of the web.

US Patent:

56675623, Sep 16, 1997

Filed:

Apr 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/633979

Inventors:

David Grant Midkiff - Alpharetta GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Irving TX

International Classification:

B03C 3155

US Classification:

96 15

Abstract:

There is provided a vacuum cleaner filter medium which is a nonwoven spunbond web of conjugate spunbond fibers. The web has a Frazier permeability of at least 250 CFM, an NaCI efficiency of at least 65 percent, a Gurley Stiffness of at least 20 mg, and a pressure drop of 0. 5 or less mm H. sub. 2 O. The conjugate fibers are made from polymers, more particularly polyolefins, still more particularly polypropylene and polyethylene in a side-by-side configuration. The filter medium is treated by a hot-air knife and through-air bonded during the production process. The medium is also electret treated. The medium has sufficient stiffness to be converted into a filter by conventional techniques. While this invention is directed mainly to air purification and filtration, other gasses may be filtered as well.

US Patent:

49294806, May 29, 1990

Filed:

Jul 20, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/075382

Inventors:

David G. Midkiff - Alpharetta GA
Carl G. Rippl - Woodstock GA
Nancy D. Twyman - Norcross GA
Joseph D. Wahlquist - Woodstock GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 1516

US Classification:

428 356

Abstract:

An absorbent structure for collecting and retaining exuded fluids from food products such as meat and poultry is disclosed herein. The structure has a fluid permeable top sheet and a fluid impermeable bottom sheet with an absorbent core of pulp coform material located therebetween. In a preferred embodiment the periphery of the top and bottom sheets are sealed to form a pouch and the pulp coform material is stratified into a first top layer and a second bottom layer. Superabsorbents such as carboxymethylcellulose may be added to the coform material to aid in fluid retention. In the preferred embodiment the superabsorbent is located in the bottom layer of pulp coform while the top layer of the pulp coform is substantially devoid of the superabsorbent.

US Patent:

48658553, Sep 12, 1989

Filed:

Jan 11, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/142383

Inventors:

Richard E. Hansen - Roswell GA
Carl G. Rippl - Woodstock GA
David G. Midkiff - Alpharetta GA
Joseph G. Neuwirth - Cumming GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B65D 8126

US Classification:

426124

Abstract:

There is disclosed an absorbent food pad which absorbs exudate from food products in a package and inhibits the propagation of food-borne pathogens. The absorbent food pad contains an effective amount of an antimicrobial composition of one or more acids having the structure: R--COOH where R is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl; substituted lower alkyl; carboxy lower alkyl; carboxy, hydroxy lower alkyl; carboxy, halo lower alkyl; carboxy, dihydroxy lower alkyl, dicarboxy, hydroxy lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; carboxy lower alkenyl; dicarboxyl lower alkenyl; phenyl and substituted phenyl groups. In addition, the antimicrobial composition may include an anionic surfactant. More particularlly, the antimicrobial composition comprises a mixture of citric acid, malic acid, and sodium lauryl sulfate in a rate ratio of 10:5:2 by weight respectively. The antimicrobial composition is disbursed within the absorbent medium of the absorbent food pad at a concentration of between 0. 04% and 0.

US Patent:

57097356, Jan 20, 1998

Filed:

Oct 20, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/546007

Inventors:

David Grant Midkiff - Alpharetta GA
James Richard Neely - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B01D 3908
B01D 4652

US Classification:

96 17

Abstract:

A filter medium having high stiffness is provided. The filter is a nonwoven web of conjugate fibers which has a Frazier permeability above 200 CFM, an NaCl efficiency above 75 percent, a Gurley Stiffness above 700 mg, and a SEP value of above 80. The conjugate fibers may be polyolefin, more particularly polypropylene and polyethylene in a side-by-side configuration. The medium may be made into a filter by conventional means such as pleating. Such filters are useful in HVAC systems and transportation cabin air filtration.