Patrick S Mcnichols

US Patent:

6382290, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Mar 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/800296

Inventors:

Patrick Sean McNichols - Hortonville WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 3116

US Classification:

156496, 156516, 156555, 1565801, 1565802

Abstract:

A machine and process are disclosed for bonding an elastic member to a moving substrate web while the elastic member is in an un-stretched condition. The machine provides for upwardly folding a moving substrate web along a longitudinal centerline while maintaining the side edge regions of the web in a flat un-folded or un-gather condition. An elastic member is applied to the moving web while the elastic member is un-stretched, applying the first and second end regions of the elastic member to the respective first and second side edge regions of the moving web. The end regions of the elastic member are next bonded to the side edges of the web, leaving the remainder of the elastic member un-bonded to the web. The web is then un-folded or un-gathered to its first normal width, stretching the bonded elastic member. At least a portion of the remainder of the elastic member previously un-bonded to the web is then bonded to the web, and the stretched elastic member is allowed to relax.

US Patent:

6406467, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

May 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

08/442065

Inventors:

Rebecca Lyn Dilnik - Appleton WI
Allen Todd Leak - Neenah WI
Mark Michael Mleziva - Appleton WI
Michael A. Snyder - Waupaca WI
Patrick Sean McNichols - Hortonville WI
Scott Leslie Williams - Neenah WI
Robert John Leveille - Appleton WI
Scott Lee Pennings - Neenah WI
Paul John Serbiak - Appleton WI
Bruce Michael Siebers - Appleton WI
Robert Eugene Vogt - Neenah WI
Georgia Lynn Zehner - Larsen WI
Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI
John Gerard Hein - Appleton WI
Timothy Raymond Heindel - Neenah WI
Tim Joseph Janssen - Kaukauna WI
Kathleen Ann Peterson - Madison WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1315

US Classification:

604391, 604387

Abstract:

Disclosed is an improved fastening tape for use on a disposable absorbent garment. The fastening tape comprises a first substrate and an interlocking material attached to said first substrate. The interlocking material extends the entire width of the fastening tape, and the interlocking material is longitudinally spaced from both transverse edges of the fastening tape. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the fastening tape. The process involves providing a continuous length of an interlocking material having a width and traveling in a first direction. The interlocking material is attached to a first substrate to form a composite. The composite is then cut along a second direction to form fastening tapes suitable for attachment on a disposable absorbent garment. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

US Patent:

6524293, Feb 25, 2003

Filed:

Dec 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/466490

Inventors:

Laura Linda Elsberg - Woodstock GA
Brian Walter Angielski - Neenah WI
June Marie De Valk - Appleton WI
Tim Joseph Janssen - Kaukauna WI
Patrick Sean McNichols - Hortonville WI
Jennifer Elizabeth Pozniak - Appleton WI
Bruce Reed Shafer - Green Bay WI
James Bennington Stopher - Neenah WI
Gary Lee Travis - Oshkosh WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1315

US Classification:

60438513, 6043853, 604391, 604396

Abstract:

A prefastened, refastenable, disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, at least one stretch panel, and a pair a primary fasteners. The absorbent chassis defines a pair of longitudinally opposed end edges and a pair of laterally opposed side edges. The stretch panel is located in one of the waist regions and defines a waist edge, a pair of laterally opposed outboard edges which are located laterally beyond the side edges of the absorbent chassis, and an inward edge which is located longitudinally inward from the waist edge. The pair of primary fasteners are located on the laterally opposed outboard edges of the stretch panel and are releasably prefastened to an opposite waist region of the absorbent chassis to releasably engage a front waist region to a rear waist region to provide the prefastened disposable absorbent article.

US Patent:

6537403, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Dec 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/034556

Inventors:

Timothy James Blenke - Neenah WI
Patrick Sean McNichols - Hortonville WI
Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI
Tauhid Husain - New Milford CT

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B29C 6508

US Classification:

156 731, 156555, 1565802, 156582

Abstract:

A ultrasonic processing method and apparatus ( ), can include a rotatable, ultrasonic horn member ( ) operatively joined to a first isolation member ( ) and a second isolation member ( ). In a particular aspect, the first and second isolation members ( ) can exhibit high rigidity. A rotatable anvil member ( ) can be cooperatively positioned to provide a selected horn-anvil gap ( ), and the anvil member ( ) can be located in a horizontally offset and vertically overlapping arrangement relative to the horn member ( ). An actuator ( ) or other transfer device can selectively adjust the horn-anvil gap ( ). Additionally, an ultrasonic exciter ( ) can connect to the horn member ( ), and can provide an operative amount of ultrasonic energy to the horn member ( ).

US Patent:

6547903, Apr 15, 2003

Filed:

Dec 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/034178

Inventors:

Patrick Sean McNichols - Hortonville WI
Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI
Timothy James Blenke - Neenah WI
Tauhid Husain - New Milford CT
Barton Andrew Laughlin - Hortonville WI
Paul Gordon Klemp - Hortonville WI
John Ford Condron - Neenah WI
Harold Norbert Heller - Menasha WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B29C 6508

US Classification:

156 64, 156 731, 156358, 156555, 1565802, 156582

Abstract:

An ultrasonic processing method and apparatus ( ) can include a rotatable, ultrasonic horn member ( ) that is operatively joined to an isolation member ( ) which has high rigidity. A rotatable anvil member ( ) can be cooperatively positioned to provide a selected horn-anvil gap ( ), and an automated drive ( ) can be connected to an actuator ( ), or other transfer device, to automatically adjust the horn-anvil gap ( ). An electronic processor ( ) can be configured to monitor an intermittent gap force detected from an output provided by a force sensor ( ), and can provide a drive signal to the automated drive ( ) to thereby adjust the horn-anvil gap ( ) to operatively maintain a target, gap force value.

US Patent:

6551294, Apr 22, 2003

Filed:

Dec 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/465853

Inventors:

Laura Linda Elsberg - Woodstock GA
Brian Walter Angielski - Neenah WI
June Marie De Valk - Appleton WI
Tim Joseph Janssen - Kaukauna WI
Patrick Sean McNichols - Hortonville WI
Jennifer Elizabeth Pozniak - Appleton WI
Bruce Reed Shafer - Green Bay WI
James Bennington Stopher - Neenah WI
Gary Lee Travis - Oshkosh WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1315

US Classification:

60438501, 604386, 604391

Abstract:

A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, at least one fit panel, a pair a primary fasteners and an integral waist size adjustment mechanism. The fit panel is located in one of the waist regions of the absorbent chassis and defines a waist edge, a pair of laterally opposed outboard edges which are located laterally beyond the side edges of the absorbent chassis, and an inward edge which is located longitudinally inward from the waist edge. The pair of primary fasteners are located on the laterally opposed outboard edges of the fit panel and are configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent chassis to provide the disposable absorbent article. The waist size adjustment mechanism may include a secondary fastener tab which is integral with the fit panel.

US Patent:

6613171, Sep 2, 2003

Filed:

Dec 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/033998

Inventors:

Patrick Sean McNichols - Hortonville WI
Timothy James Blenke - Neenah WI
Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI
Tauhid Husain - New Milford CT
Daniel Edward Wallander - Appleton WI
Norman Rudolf Stegelmann - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B29C 6508

US Classification:

156 731, 156555, 1565802, 156582

Abstract:

A method and apparatus ( ) for ultrasonic bonding or other processing can include a rotatable ultrasonic horn member ( ) having a first axial side ( ) and a second axial side ( ). The first axial side ( ) of the horn member ( ) can be operatively joined to a first rotatable axle member ( ), and the first axle member ( ) can be operatively joined to a first isolation member ( ). The second axial side ( ) of the horn member ( ) can be operatively joined to a second rotatable axle member ( ), and the second axle member ( ) can be operatively joined to a second isolation member ( ). The isolation members ( ) are capable of bending under a horn-life range of sonic frequencies to provide an operative component of motion along a radial direction ( ) of each isolation member ( ), and an operative component of motion along an axial direction ( ) of each isolation member.

US Patent:

6620270, Sep 16, 2003

Filed:

Dec 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/034040

Inventors:

Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI
Patrick Sean McNichols - Hortonville WI
Barton Andrew Laughlin - Hortonville WI
Harold Norbert Heller - Menasha WI
Timothy James Blenke - Neenah WI
Tauhid Husain - New Milford CT
Paul Gordon Klemp - Hortonville WI
John Ford Condron - Neenah WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B29C 6508

US Classification:

156 64, 156 731, 156358, 156555, 1565802, 156582

Abstract:

An ultrasonic processing method and apparatus ( ) can include a rotatable, ultrasonic horn member ( ) that is operatively joined to an isolation member ( ) which has high rigidity. Additionally, a rotatable anvil member ( ) can be cooperatively positioned to provide a selected horn-anvil gap ( ) between the anvil member ( ) and the horn member ( ). A transfer device ( ) can be configured to selectively adjust the horn-anvil gap ( ), and an automated drive ( ) can be operatively connected to the transfer device ( ) to selectively modify the horn-anvil gap ( ). A force sensor ( ) can be configured to detect a gap force at the horn-anvil gap ( ), and an electronic processor ( ) can be configured to employ an output from the force sensor ( ) to monitor the gap force, and provide a drive signal to the automated drive ( ) to thereby adjust the horn-anvil gap ( ).