Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Bernard Lau
  • Patent number: 7494078
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of processing Chinese kaolin involving providing Chinese kaolin having a desired powder size, delaminating the Chinese kaolin, pulverizing the delaminated Chinese kaolin at least two times, and heating the at least twice pulverized Chinese kaolin. Also disclosed are systems for automated processing of Chinese kaolin containing a pulverizer for pulverizing Chinese kaolin, a tester for testing and generating data of at least one parameter of the Chinese kaolin or at least one parameter of the pulverizer, a controller, operatively coupled to the pulverizer and the tester, for controlling operation of the pulverizer based on data received from the tester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Saad N. Nemeh, Danny Williams, Francis Yin, Randall P. Brown, Ernie Finch
  • Patent number: 7494541
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of processing kaolin to produce two distinct grades of kaolin in a simultaneous manner. The methods involve processing kaolin by degritting a kaolin crude; subjecting the degritted kaolin crude to flotation to provide a kaolin having reduced titania content; ozonating the kaolin having reduced titania content; centrifuging the kaolin to provide a coarse stream and fine stream; refining the coarse stream into a coarse engineered kaolin pigment; and refining the fine stream into a fine glossing kaolin pigment. Also disclosed are systems for the automated processing of kaolin to produce two distinct grades of kaolin with real time feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Sharad Mathur, Kenneth W. Folmar, David Kirk Thompson, Barry L. Daniels
  • Patent number: 7490981
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining thermal effusivity and/or thermal conductivity of a sheet material or of coated substrate having a thickness of less than about 100 ?m. The method contains providing a sample by layering more than 2 sheet materials or coated substrates and measuring thermal effusivity and/or thermal conductivity of the sample by a thermal effusivity probe and/or thermal conductivity probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Catalysts LLC
    Inventor: Ivan Petrovic
  • Patent number: 7470318
    Abstract: A pearlescent pigment comprises (a) synthetic mica substrate, (b) calcined ferrite coating on the substrate, and (c) an outer layer or treatment wherein said outer layer or treatment was added to the calcined ferrite coated synthetic mica in water. The pearlescent pigment may be used in exterior applications such as automotive paint systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Cao, Carolynn Lavallee, Steven Jones, Debbie Cacace
  • Patent number: 7296431
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of cooling products includes a conveyor for transporting the products, through a refrigeration medium for cooling the products, agitation means disposed proximate to the conveyor for selective, intermittent contact with the conveyor to displace the conveyor from a plane of travel, thereby displacing the products on the conveyor during freezing to prevent the products from adhering to the conveyor or other of the products during freezing, at least one of the agitation means and the conveyor constructed and arranged to be positioned away from each other for the conveyor to move uninterrupted along the plane of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Muscato, Robert Boddaert, Stephen A McCormick, John Hamilton
  • Patent number: 7258226
    Abstract: A modular drive system for a self-stacking conveyor belt adapted to travel at least along one non-linear path segment includes at least one drive cassette adapted to removably engage sidelinks on an edge of the conveyor belt, and preferably at least a first drive cassette engaging the conveyor belt sidelinks at an inner curve of the segment and at least a second drive cassette engaging the conveyor belt sidelinks at an outer curve of the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Nelson, Daniel E. Flanagan, Robert Muscato
  • Patent number: 7229066
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for mixing a gas and a liquid to produce a gaseous vapor of the liquid that is substantially free of droplets. Gas, e.g., carbon dioxide, is divided into first and second streams. The first stream is combined in an atomization zone with the liquid, e.g., acetic acid, to form an atomized mixture of the gas and liquid. This atomized mixture is then contacted with the second gas stream in a mixing zone within a mixing/separation chamber in which the second gas stream vaporizes substantially all of the atomized liquid, and the resulting mixture of gas, vaporized liquid and residual droplets moves to the separation zone of the mixing/separation chamber. In the separation zone, the residual droplets gravitationally separate from the vaporized mixture, and the vaporized mixture free of a substantial amount of residual droplets is removed from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Newman, Stephen A. McCormick, Helmut Dresselhaus
  • Patent number: 7208055
    Abstract: An article of titanium or a titanium-based alloy, or of zirconium or a zirconium-based alloy is case hardened by heat treatment for at least 12 hours at one or more temperatures in the range of 850° C. to 900° C. and at a pressure in the order of atmospheric pressure in an oxygen diffusion atmosphere. The oxygen diffusion atmosphere comprises a carrier gas such as argon which does not react chemically with the article the said temperature range and molecular oxygen. The concentration of oxygen as the oxygen diffusion atmosphere is in the range of 10 volumes per million to 400 volumes per million.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: The BOC Group, plc
    Inventors: Paul Francis Stratton, John B. Boodey
  • Patent number: 7199581
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance measurement methods for determining the mass of samples are provided in which magnetic field homogeneity is determined, compensation is provided for potential drifts in the measuring system, and the presence of metal in samples is determined. The methods include applying a magnetic field in a first direction in an interrogation zone for creating a net magnetisation within a sample located within the interrogation zone; applying an alternating magnetic field in a second direction in the interrogation zone for temporarily changing the net magnetisation of the sample located within the interrogation zone; monitoring energy emitted by the sample as the net magnetisation of the sample returns to its original state and generating an output signal having a characteristic which is proportional to the energy emitted; and comparing the output signal of the monitoring with other data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jozef A. W. M. Corver, Paulus C. J. M. Hendrickx, Paul Stewart, Ad van den Elshout, James M McKendry, Malcolm Buckingham, Graham Craigie
  • Patent number: 7147732
    Abstract: A hot object is quenched after heat treatment. A hot gas stream having at least 20% by volume of hydrogen is taken from for example a carburising chamber of a furnace. The gas is cooled by passage through a heat exchanger, and is compressed in a compressor. The compressor has an aftercooler (not shown) to remove heat of compression from the gas. The cooled, compressed gas flows through nozzles into a quenching chamber. The gas leaves the nozzles at a velocity of at least 50 m/s and impinges upon the hot metal object so as to effect its quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Paul Stratton
  • Patent number: 7015693
    Abstract: An improvement in a magnetic resonance method for determining the mass of samples wherein the samples include powdered solid materials, including applying a first magnetic field in a first direction in an interrogation zone for creating a net magnetisation within a sample located within the interrogation zone; applying an alternating magnetic field in a second direction in the interrogation zone for temporarily changing the net magnetisation of the sample; monitoring energy emitted by the sample as the net magnetisation of the sample returns to its original state and generating an output signal having a characteristic which is proportional to the energy emitted; comparing the output signal characteristic with like data obtained from at least one similar sample of known mass; and, determining the mass of the sample; the improvement being one of generating the static magnetic field having a field strength in the range of about 0.1 T to about 1.3 T, or disposing the samples within a distance of about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jozef A. W. M. Corver, Paul Stewart
  • Patent number: 6827907
    Abstract: A compound handling system handles a multiplicity of chemical or biological compounds or samples, and is especially adapted for high throughput screening of compounds that are stored and handled in aliquotted form. Aliquots are contained in individual containers and the containers are arranged in racks having holding spaces open at opposite ends. Insertion and removal of the containers is effected in either direction of movement, and each container may be sealed with foil to protect its integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc.
    Inventors: Christof Fattinger, Hansjörg Tschirky
  • Patent number: 6734302
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds according to formula I and formula II and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof, having the designations provided herein and which inhibit the interaction of MDM2 protein with a p53-like peptide and have antiproliferative activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Kong, Emily Aijun Liu, Binh Thanh Vu
  • Patent number: 6730326
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermodynamically stable modification of (±)1-(4-carbazolyloxy)-3-[2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)ethylamino]-2-propanole and pharmacologically acceptable salts or optically active forms thereof as well as processes for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Beyer, Erhard Reinholz
  • Patent number: 6693116
    Abstract: The present application relates to compounds of the formula wherein R1 is hydrogen, halogen or lower alkoxy; R2 is hydrogen or is —C(O)-lower alkyl or —C(O)-phenyl, wherein the phenyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy and trifluoromethyl, or is —C(O)-furanyl or —C(O)-thiophenyl, wherein the rings are unsubstituted or substituted by halogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases associated with the adenosine A2 receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Heinrich Nettekoven, Sebastien Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6683201
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein U, Y, V, W, L, X, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6 are as defined in the description and claims and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or pharmaceutically acceptable esters thereof. The compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases which are associated with 2,3-oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase such as hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, vascular diseases, mycoses, parasite infections, gallstones, tumors and/or hyperproliferative disorders, and/or treatment and/or prophylaxis of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Ackermann, Johannes Aebi, Alexander Chucholowski, Henrietta Dehmlow, Olivier Morand, Sabine Wallbaum, Thomas Weller
  • Patent number: 6680326
    Abstract: Novel polycyclic compounds of the formula [I], wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, ring A, ring B, X, Y and Z are as defined herein and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds have antitumor activity and useful for the treatment of cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
    Inventors: Tsunehisa Aoyama, Kenichi Kawasaki, Miyako Masubuchi, Tatsuo Ohtsuka, Kiyoaki Sakata
  • Patent number: 6680307
    Abstract: The invention relates to use of ibandronic acid (1-hydroxy-3-(N-methyl-N-pentyl)aminopropyl-1,1-diphosphonic acid) or physiologically compatible salts or esters thereof for improving the osseointegration of cement-free anchored endoprostheses. Ibandronate or salts thereof is applied for a short time immediately after insertion of an endoprosthesis, with the surprising result that secondary stability of the implant is obtained in only 5 weeks or less after the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH
    Inventors: Frieder Bauss, Andreas A. Kurth
  • Patent number: 6677320
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a parenteral composition comprising a bisphosphonic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (bisphosphonate) as active component and a pharmaceutically acceptable chelating agent, processes of the preparation of this composition, and methods of their use in the treatment and prevention of diseases involving bone resorption, especially osteoporosis, Paget's disease, hypercalcemia of malignancy, and metabolic bone disease. The compositions are especially useful for improving the local tolerance of the active component when administered parenterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hoffmann-La Roches Inc.
    Inventors: Anke Diederich, Pierre Goldbach, Thomas Pfister
  • Patent number: 6676970
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a pharmaceutical preparation for subcutaneous, parenteral administration, which contains bisphosphonic acids or their salts as the active substance, as well as the production of this preparation. By means of the preparation in accordance with the invention it is possible to administer locally relatively high concentrations of bisphosphonates without the occurrence of incompatibilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hoffman-La Roche Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Bader, Petra Bastian, Achim Goepferich, Wolfgang Roedel, Gerhard Winter