Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Other

Weyerhaeuser Company Limited

Menasha Corporation

Productive Solutions, Inc.

Russell L Johnson

Robert C Sokolowski

Peter C Kelly

Frederich O Lassen

Edward M Kaucic

James E Fay, Iii

Elwood W Harke

Frederick J Hrubecky

Richard R Masten, Jr

Katherine L Kalz

R Bradley Stillahn

Donald E McGillan

Barry S Hammerberg

Surinder Amarjit Kang

Daniel L Hoefler

A packaged system for selectively (a) exhausting moist air from a shower stall while the shower stall is in use, and (b) drying the ceiling, walls, and floor of the shower stall after use. The system reduces the build-up of mold, mildew, and soap scum in the shower stall, and also reduces excess moisture in the building. A blower moves air through passages opened and closed by dampers driven by an electric damper actuator through a linkage of crank arms and connecting rods. The positioning of the dampers determines the air flow direction, and thereby the operating mode. A control switch starts and stops the system and also selects the damper position. A diffuser, connected to a duct, receives air from the shower stall in the exhaust mode, and alternatively directs drying air from a room air intake onto the surfaces of the shower stall in the drying mode.

Shower stall ventilator-drier

A caddy for carrying a plurality of flotation devices. The caddy includes a frame having first and second end members, each having a slot formed therein for receiving a shoulder strap. The first end member further includes a pair of apertures for receiving a pair of elongated aluminum bars onto which a number of bulky flotation devices are secured. The first end member also includes a spring biased locking device which is coupled to the distal end of each bar.

Fishing gear caddy

An extendable tool (10) comprising a handle (12) to be grasped by a hand of a person. A shank (14) is in alignment with the handle (12). The shank (14) has an operable head (16) on a distal end. A structure (18) is for extending the handle (12) lengthwise with respect to the shank (14). An assembly (20) is for retaining the handle (12) in position lengthwise with respect to the shank (14), so that the handle (12) can be lengthened for leverage purposes and shortened to fit into compact work areas and for storage when not in use.

Extendable tool

Flowable loose packing dunnage is formed from paperboard into three dimensional particles of various shapes. Also, an apparatus for forming the dunnage employs two vertically aligned arrays of toothed, untoothed and/or cutting wheels through the nip of which paperboard segments pass and by which they are shaped into dunnage particles. Further, in a method of forming the dunnage particles, strips of paperboard are cut into segments which are formed into three dimensional shapes. A method of protecting a packed object surrounds it with the flowable loose packing dunnage made of paperboard in accordance with the present invention.

Flowable loose packing dunnage

A container composed of semiflexible body and two semiflexible end caps wherein the body and the end portions fit together in a rigid manner to provide a rigid container. Although a firm latching between the body and the end caps is afforded, they can be disassembled if desired. In a preferred manner, the end caps are composed of a semiflexible plastic material, and the semiflexible body is composed of fiberboard. The container is durable so that several of the units can be stacked upon each other. It also offers versatility in that the fiberboard body can be divided with different panel portions so as to afford a display type container.

Produce container or the like

The invention is a self-adjusting suspension system which is incorporated into the structure of a perineal shield. A flexible strand is provided at corner locations on the perimeter of the shield. A separate waistband portion has one or more elastic tensioning strips which are slidably connected by followers to the flexible strands at the corners. The follower divides the flexible strand into two directed segments, one to each side of the follower. Each directed segment is oriented towards the adjacent corner location on that side of the follower and secured to the perimeter of the shield. When tension is applied to the followers so that the flexible strands are also placed in tension, the followers slide along the strands until the tensions in the strands to each side of the followers are equal and the tension around the perimeter of the shield is approximately uniform. Substantially no tension is directed towards the midspan of the shield.

Self-adjusting suspension system for perineal shield

Cookers, methods of cooking and igniting fuel, and packaged fuel. Novel features of the cookers include receptacles and covers having reflective inner surfaces in the shapes of paraboloids. Another novel feature is a novel cooking surface and support which may extend above the top of the receptacle and into the cover. A supporting and stabilizing pan is attached to the receptacle and biased from the receptacle by a biasing means. The biasing means, combustion grate, and cooking surface support are, in combination, resiliently deformable such that the biasing means and combustion grate can be assembled to the cooking surface for storage or transport. The cookers can be readily disassembled from the cooking mode and reassembled for storage with a reduction in volume of up to at least about 50%, all without use of tools. A cap on the cooker serves dual functions of protecting the top of the cover when installed on the cover and of holding and optionally measuring lighter fluid, as in a cup, in application of lighter fluid to solid fuel. A packaged fuel article includes a container having the holding, and optionally, the measuring attributes of the cap. Method of cooking includes using a single solid fuel article as the source of heat. Also included is method of igniting charcoal, wherein the lighter fluid is measured and applied in a container.

Cooker and methods of cooking

The invention in its simplest form is a one piece receptacle formed from a blank that is a flat sheet and where gusseted corners are individually folded and latched to form the receptacle. The latches at each end of the receptacle are joinable to add strength to the receptacle and to provide convenient carrying and/or pull handles. The receptacle may be provided with an integral cover which is secureable to the latches and strengthens and adds to the utility of the latches.

One piece receptacle

A shield to be worn between the legs of a user. The shield, on its body side has a non absorbent, liquid impermeable, flexible midspan and an outside perimeter of absorbent material. In use, liquid makes contact with the shield on the flexible midspan and is moved quickly away until the liquid contacts the absorbent perimeter where it is rapidly taken up and retained. The shield is characterized by its capability to rapidly take up and contain liquids, its capability to fit comfortably and remain in place reliably, and its discreetness when carrying and wearing.

Perineal shield

Discrete absorbant particles, useful for example as an animal litter, are produced by joining together layers of formed paper pulp, the layers being compressed together in such a way as to remain together under normal use conditions, prior to immersion in water, but so as to wholly or partially separate upon immersion in water, so that the particles are easily flushed down a toilet after use. The product also has uses other than for animal litter, such as in floor sweeping, as a mulch, packing, or otherwise.

Particulate paper product, especially for use as animal litter

A means for attaching a perineal pad to a support garment so as to restrict the range of possible displacement of the pad while not transferring dynamic loads from the garment to the pad and being characterized by a tab secured to the garment side of the pad near one end of the longitudinal midline of the pad. The tab has adhesive on the pad side of its free end so that, in use, after the tab has been passed through a loop provided on the support garment the free end of the tab may be adhered to the garment side of the pad and thereby create a loop coupling between the pad and the garment.

Sanitary napkin with attachment means

Hygienic pads such as sanitary napkins are provided with extensions, which can be attached to a central pad unit to increase the dimension in a direction determined by the user.

Extendable hygienic pad

An interlabial pad as provided having a cylindrodially-shaped central portion and oppositely disposed flaps. The method for forming the interlabial pad involves folding a pad blank along the central longitudinal axis and gathering and attaching the blank at spaced-apart portions below the fold line to form a cylindrodially shaped central member with flaps depending radially therefrom.

Interlabial pad

A method of making agglomerated cellulosic particles, particularly useful as a cat litter, comprises agglomerating a moist blend of fibers, aggregates of fibers, and/or fiber-sized pieces of a fibrous cellulosic material in a substantially horizontal rotating drum to form agglomerated particles; compacting surfaces of the particles; and drying the particles.

Method of making agglomerated cellulosic particles using a substantially

A digital tampon of unitary construction made of absorbent material capable of being compressed to self-sustaining form. A portion of the material is compressed to a rod-like shape to provide a rigid central support for the remaining relatively uncompressed portion which originates at the top of the rigid central support and is draped downwardly to surround and extend past the lower terminus of the support to form a finger receiving pocket at the tampon base. During insertion the rigid central rod provides positive support to the softer outer portion, while the portion of the tampon surrounding the finger protects the finger from contact with menstrual fluid. After insertion the finger can easily spread the draped over portion to better deploy and position the tampon within the body.

Growing community of inventors

Weyauwega, WI, United States of America

Russell L Johnson