Eric J Lennon

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:

7504060, Mar 17, 2009

Filed:

Oct 16, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/687006

Inventors:

Thomas William Brock - Woodstock GA, US
Brian Stephen Forbes - Alpharetta GA, US
Bryan David Haynes - Advance NC, US
Douglas Jay Hulslander - Woodstock GA, US
Matthew Boyd Lake - Cumming GA, US
Eric Edward Lennon - Roswell GA, US
Hannong Rhim - Roswell GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

D01D 5/08
D04H 3/02
D06M 10/00

US Classification:

264465, 264103, 425 831, 4251748 E

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven web with desired fiber orientation, the method including the steps of providing a source of fibers, subjecting the fibers to an electrostatic charge, deflecting the fibers with a non-contacting deflecting device, collecting the fibers on a moving forming surface to form the nonwoven web. The invention also provides an apparatus for forming fibrous nonwoven webs, the apparatus comprising a source of fibers, a device for applying an electrostatic charge to the fibers, a non-contacting fiber deflecting device adapted to affect the fibers while the fibers are under the influence of the applied electrostatic charge, and a forming surface for collecting the fibers as a fibrous nonwoven web.

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.

US Patent:

8333918, Dec 18, 2012

Filed:

Oct 27, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/694153

Inventors:

Eric Edward Lennon - Roswell GA, US
Thomas William Brock - Woodstock GA, US
Bryan David Haynes - Advance NC, US
Douglas Jay Hulslander - Woodstock GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B29C 47/00

US Classification:

264465, 264103, 264555, 2642108

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven web, the method including the steps of providing plurality of fibers and subjecting the fibers to a pneumatic attenuation force which imparts a velocity to the fibers, reducing the velocity of the fibers in a diffusion chamber which is formed substantially between opposed diverging sidewalls, subjecting the fibers to an applied electrostatic charge, and thereafter collecting the fibers into a web on a moving forming surface. The invention also provides an apparatus for forming nonwoven webs, the apparatus comprising a source of fibers, a fiber attenuation chamber, a diffusion chamber formed substantially between opposed diverging sidewalls, the diffusion chamber located below the fiber attenuation chamber, and a forming surface for collecting the fibers as a nonwoven web.

US Patent:

8524144, Sep 3, 2013

Filed:

Jul 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/543377

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

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B29C 47/08

US Classification:

264555, 264121, 264103, 264115, 4251748 R, 425 722, 425 831

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.

US Patent:

8551895, Oct 8, 2013

Filed:

Dec 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/976032

Inventors:

Ali Yahiaoui - Roswell GA, US
Anthony S. Spencer - Woodstock GA, US
Linda Connor Sledge - Sandy Springs GA, US
John Joseph Lassig - Dawsonville GA, US
Eric Edward Lennon - Roswell GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 5/22
B32B 5/26
B32B 15/14

US Classification:

442 82, 442 59, 442 88, 442 92, 442 98, 442154

Abstract:

A laminate is generally provided having alcohol repellency properties. In one particular embodiment, the laminate includes a meltblown web bonded to a spunbond web (e. g. , a SM laminate, a SMS laminate, a SMMS laminate, etc. ). A fluorinated polymeric coating is attached to the surface of the spunbond web (e. g. , grafted). The fluorinated polymeric coating comprises a perfluoroalkyl(alkyl) (meth)acrylate monomer polymerized on the surface of the spunbond web via exposure to a low frequency energy source. The perfluoroalkyl(alkyl) (meth)acrylate monomer has a perfluoroalkyl side groups comprising —(CF)—F, where z is an integer from 1 to 6. The laminate has an alcohol repellency of greater than 80%.

US Patent:

20030116890, Jun 26, 2003

Filed:

Dec 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/036854

Inventors:

Leon Chambers - Marietta GA, US
Eric Lennon - Roswell GA, US
Gabriel Adam - Alpharetta GA, US
Jerome Schwalen - Marietta GA, US
Christopher Laslie - Cumming GA, US
H. Clark - Owensboro KY, US

International Classification:

B27N001/00

US Classification:

264/518000, 425/080100

Abstract:

A nonwoven web contains an even distribution of its composite materials by the separate application of particulate material such as superabsorbent particles into a forming head outside the air stream for deposition of thermoplastic fibers in the forming head. The thermoplastic fibers are distributed by air entertainment through tubular forming screens having rotary distribution members therein. The particulate absorbents are generally placed in the forming box by distribution units which may have metering devices and outlet chutes extending into the forming head.

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.