Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Thomas Gregory Triebes

Donald J McMichael

Bryan David Haynes

Jark Chong Lau

Charles John Morell

Mark Thomas Pamperin

Audra Stefanik Wright

Samuel Edward Marmon

Michael A Kenowski

Timothy Wilson Reader

Joel Brostin

Nancy H Puckett

Stephen Harding Primm

Wade R Thompson

Kermit R Littleton

Dave Allen Soerens

Robert Allen Janssen

Jeffrey Lawrence McManus

Christopher Cosgrove Creagan

Mary Elizabeth Kister

Rebecca Willey Griffin

Netty Dawn DiViesti

Kevin James Kastner

Shantilal Hirji Modha

Daniel Kermit Hill

Donald J Mcmichael

Shantilal H Modha

Michael Allen Kenowski

A unitary component having a tip portion integrally formed with an expandable sleeve portion. Other aspects of the present invention are related to a catheter incorporating a unitary component. Still other aspects of the present invention will be apparent upon reading the remainder of the disclosure.

Catheter with unitary component

The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the relative difficulty in donning of a glove. The apparatus contains a glove mount for holding a glove to be tested in an open donnable position and a device for measuring the effort associated with donning the glove. The invention also relates to a method for measuring the effort associated with donning a glove by providing a testing apparatus having a glove mount and a device for measuring effort associated with donning of a glove, mounting a glove for testing on the glove mount so the glove is open and donnable, initializing the testing apparatus, and acquiring data from the device relating to the effort associated with donning of the glove.

Method for measuring the effort in donning a glove

A process for producing a catheter having a head, a shaft, a distal end, and a tip member wherein the tip member is secured onto the distal end of the catheter during production of the tip member. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a process for producing a catheter. The process including providing a catheter with a proximal end, a shaft, an interior, an exterior, and a distal end; and producing a balloon member having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the distal end of the balloon member is attached to the distal end of the catheter during production of the balloon member.

Process for producing a catheter

Apparatus for measuring the relative difficulty in donning a glove

Disclosed is an elastomeric article, such as an elastomeric glove, for example, and a method for making the disclosed elastomeric article. The elastomeric article includes a fluorocarbon graft on the donning surface of the article. In addition, a hydrophilic lubricant including a modified siloxane displaying polar functionality may be applied to the surface of the article. In one embodiment, the modified siloxane may be an amino modified siloxane. The silicone lubricant and the fluorocarbon graft display a synergy, providing an article with improved dry slip characteristics and improved wet slip characteristics. In addition, a fatty alcohol may be applied to the surface of the article, further improving the damp slip characteristics of the article.

Elastomeric articles with improved damp slip

The present invention is directed to breathable elastomeric gloves. The gloves of the present invention may allow the transmission of water vapor while still providing an effective barrier to virus, bacteria, contaminants, bodily fluids, and the like. In general, a breathability additive may be incorporated into the polymer matrix of the or more layers of the glove to improve the breathability of the layer. For example, polyethylene oxide may be incorporated into a layer as a breathability additive.

Breathable elastomeric glove

A zoned hot air knife assembly and process include a plurality of discrete, spaced apart air knives is useful for the inter-filament bonding of nonwoven webs, for the thermal bonding of laminates including nonwoven webs, and other applications. The zoned hot air knife assembly and process facilitate the manufacture of low bond area, low density nonwoven webs and laminates having high structural integrity. The zoned hot air knife also reduces the amount of heated air and, thus, energy required for the production of thermally bonded nonwoven webs and laminates.

Method of using zoned hot air knife

Improved equipment and method for spinning filaments for nonwovens using an integral spinbank including one or more spinplates producing filament bundles separated by one or more central conduits for quench air. Embodiments include high velocity quench air driven into the central conduit or quench air blown or drawn in from outside the filaments into the central conduit. Means may also be provided for removal of undesired waxes and/or other condensates through a central exhaust removal using the central conduit. As quench air velocity is increased through the central conduit, the streams tend to improve total quench flow by deflecting opposing flows into a uniform stream. Other variations include division of quench air into flow zones that may be independently controlled and varying the angle of quench air flow and/or the spinplates to maintain separation distance between quench air and filament bundles.

Nonwoven process and apparatus

There is provided a fabric which has been produced in a pneumatic chamber which has tiny grooves over an effective amount of its fluid contacting surface. Also provided is a method of producing a web having greater uniformity by producing it with pneumatic chambers having surface grooves. Fabrics produced in such a manner have greater uniformity when measured by permeability, basis weight or CD and MD strength properties.

Pneumatic chamber having grooved walls for producing uniform nonwoven

There is provided a fabric produced by a spunbond or a meltblown apparatus, wherein the apparatus has a pneumatic chamber having at least one wall containing a plurality of spaced protrusions. Preferably, both opposing walls contain protrusions aligned in staggered angled rows and the rows on one wall are angled opposite the rows on the opposing wall, thereby causing controlled lateral flow near the chamber walls. This lateral flow exhibits drag on the fibers, imparting rotational energy to the fibers. The fibers are imparted with rotational energy derived from the lateral component of the two turbulent airflow fields that oppose one another, and have a tendency to twist and crimp. Fabrics so produced have improved loft, drape, and feel and may be useable as a loop material for hook-and-loop type fasteners.

Nonwoven fabrics having improved fiber twisting and crimping

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Thomas Gregory Triebes