Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Cheryl J. Tubach
  • Patent number: 6287656
    Abstract: Amorphous copolyesters containing residues derived from 2,2′-[2,2-](sulfonylbis(4,1-phenyleneoxy))bis(ethanol). They exhibit enhanced heat distortion temperatures and glass transition temperatures without a significant increase in viscosity at low shear rates. The amorphous copolyesters also have improved resistance to attack by lipid solutions and are readily molded and extruded to form medial devices such as connectors, tubes, etc. which are useful for transport of lipids and other medical solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: S. Richard Turner, Gary W. Connell, Bobby J. Sublett
  • Patent number: 6277909
    Abstract: A process for lessening shear-induced reduction of fiber length in a melt processable, fiber reinforced polymer composition, and compositions useful in and obtained from such process, comprising the steps of: admixing a first polymer, the first polymer being a thermoplastic polymer, with a second polymer being TLCP, and a reinforcing fiber; and subjecting the composition to shear, wherein the first and second polymers have melt processing ranges that overlap over an overlapping melt processing range; and the second polymer is partly immiscible with or immiscible with the first polymer when mixed with the first polymer within the overlapping melt processing range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Edwin Wilson, Clinton Cherry
  • Patent number: 6271006
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward efficient, high-yield processes for making ascorbic acid, 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, and esters of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid. The processes comprise reacting the appropriate starting materials with a hydrolase enzyme catalyst such as a protease, an esterase, a lipase or an amidase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: John Clark Hubbs
  • Patent number: 6271291
    Abstract: A novel composition is provided comprising a copolyester having CHDM moieties in amounts of about 1 to about 20 mole percent, and a particular antistat, that is extrudable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Douglas Stephens McWilliams, Harold Eugene Dobbs, Scott Arnold Hanson, Emily Tedrow Bell
  • Patent number: 6271424
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making purified monotertiarybutyl hydroquinone containing less than 0.2% (wt.) of 2,5 ditertiarybutyl hydroquinone. This method includes heating a composition of monotertiarybutyl hydroquinone and 2,5 ditertiarybutyl hydroquinone in a solvent mixture of a polar solvent and a non-polar solvent. During this step, the non-polar solvent is substantially stripped-off and at least part of the 2,5 ditertiarybutyl hydroquinone is solidified, which is separated from the non-solidified composition. The remaining non-solidified composition and polar solvent are mixed with a non-polar solvent of the same type as was previously stripped-off. The polar solvent, which contains the purified monotertiarybutyl hydroquinone, is separated from the non-polar solvent. This purified monotertiarybutyl hydroquinone is separated the from the polar solvent to produce purified monotertiarybutyl hydroquinone containing less than 0.2% (wt.) of 2,5 ditertiarybutyl hydroquinone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Phillip Montgomery Hudnall, Lucian Boldea
  • Patent number: 6268028
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions, paper, thermoplastic sheets, and medical paper containing cellulose ester, alkylpolyglycoside (APG) or a mixture of APG and polyether glycol, and, optionally, cellulose. The process of incorporating APG or a mixture of APG and polyether glycol in paper composed of cellulose ester fibers and cellulose fibers and to calendaring of such paper is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles Michael Buchanan, Eric Eugene Ellery, Matthew Davie Wood
  • Patent number: 6265072
    Abstract: Weatherable multi-layer structures that are ultraviolet stabilized contain a substrate layer of a polymer which degrades upon exposure to UV radiation and at least one ultraviolet protective layer based on a 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol-based polycarbonate and an effective level of an ultraviolet absorbing compound. The UV absorbing compound is a benzotriazole, a dimeric benzotriazole, a triazine, a benzoxazinone, or a diphenylcyanoarylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: David Richard Fagerburg
  • Patent number: 6228895
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions, paper, thermoplastic sheets, and medical paper containing cellulose ester alkylpolyglycoside (APG) or a mixture of APG and polyether glycol, and, optionally, cellulose. The process of incorporating APG or a mixture of APG and polyether glycol in paper composed of cellulose ester fibers and cellulose fibers and to calendaring of such paper is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles Michael Buchanan, Eric Eugene Ellery, Matthew Davie Wood
  • Patent number: 6224717
    Abstract: The invention relates to method for separating tocotrienol from a first tocol admixture by heating the first tocol admixture composed of a tocotrienol, at least one tocopherol, a fatty acid, and an esterifying compound to esterify the fatty acid to produce a second tocol admixture composed of the tocotrienol, the tocopherol, the esterified fatty acid, and the unesterified fatty acid; distilling the second tocol admixture with the esterified fatty acid to remove the unesterified fatty acid from the second tocol admixture to produce a third tocol admixture composed of the tocotrienol and the tocopherol, with substantially removed unesterified fatty acid; distilling the third tocol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the tocotrienol and tocopherol from the third tocol admixture to produce a fourth tocol admixture composed of the removed tocotrienol, tocopherol, and a non-tocol component; and extracting the tocotrienol from the fourth tocol admixture with an extraction solvent
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Sumner, Jr., John D. Moncier, Jeffrey S. Kanel, Mary K. Foster
  • Patent number: 6218450
    Abstract: A copolyester blend resistant to ultraviolet radiation includes a polyethylene terephthalate based copolyester having 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues; an effective amount of an ultraviolet radiation absorber selected from the group consisting of benzoxazinones, dimeric benzotriazoles, triazines and mixtures thereof; from about 5 mol % to about 40 mol % isophthalic acid residues in the copolyester, and from 5 mol % to 20 mol % 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid residues present in the copolyester, wherein the mole percent of the diacid is based on 100 mole percent of dicarboxylic acid or equivalents. The copolyester blend is useful in making UV radiation resistant thermoformed articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: David Richard Fagerburg
  • Patent number: 6193841
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions, paper, thermoplastic sheets, and medical paper containing cellulose ester, alkylpolyglycoside (APG) or a mixture of APG and polyether glycol, and, optionally, cellulose. The process of incorporating APG or a mixture of APG and polyether glycol in paper composed of cellulose ester fibers and cellulose fibers and to calendaring of such paper is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles Michael Buchanan, Eric Eugene Ellery, Matthew Davie Wood
  • Patent number: 6183848
    Abstract: An amorphous copolyester having a maximum melt viscosity at 1 radian/second and at about 260 to about 290° C. of about 12000 poise, a glass transition temperature ranging from about 88° C. to about 120° C., and an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.6 dl/g. The amorphous copolyesters comprise the reaction product of a diol component and a dicarboxylic acid component. The diol component comprises residues of from about 5.0 to about 50 mole % of 2,2′-(sulfonylbis (4,1-phenyleneoxy))-bis(ethanol) which has the following chemical formula: and from about 50 to about 95 mole % of a mixture of at least two diols selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and mixture thereof. The dicarboxylic acid component comprises residues of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 1,4-cyclohexandedicarboxylic acid, 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: S. Richard Turner, Bobby J. Sublett, Gary W. Connell
  • Patent number: 6161050
    Abstract: A numerically controlled milling machine is used to mill the surface of a coined spinnerette after punching and before broaching the holes in the spinnerette. A probe is mounted on the milling machine to obtain data points on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette. The low points in predetermined areas off of the protuberances on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette are detected. Splines connecting the low points in, e.g., concentric rings if the holes in the finished spinnerette will be in rings, are used to generate a representation of the finished surface. A spiral tool path is obtained using the representation of the finished surface and G-codes are generated to control the milling machine to move a tool along the tool path. After the coined spinnerette has been milled, conventional finishing, including broaching is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Ernest Edward Jessee, Michael Ray McLaughlin, Timothy Martin Pinto, James Emmett Grant, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6159347
    Abstract: The invention relates to method for separating tocol from a tocol-containing admixture by heating the tocol-containing admixture composed a tocol, a fatty acid, and an esterifying compound to esterify the fatty acid to produce a second tocol admixture composed of the tocol, the esterified fatty acid, and the unesterified fatty acid; distilling the tocol-containing admixture with the esterified fatty acid to remove the unesterified fatty acid from the tocol admixture to produce a tocol admixture composed of the tocol with substantially removed unesterified fatty acid; distilling the tocol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the tocol from the tocol admixture to produce a tocol admixture composed of the removed tocol and a non-tocol component; and extracting the tocol from the tocol admixture with an extraction solvent composed of a polar, organic solvent that is miscible with water to produce a two phase system composed of a first phase containing the majority of the extract
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Sumner, Jr., John D. Moncier, Jeffrey S. Kanel, Mary K. Foster
  • Patent number: 6156913
    Abstract: The invention provides processes for producing phytol, isophytol, and certain phytol derivatives by a method of oxidizing or epoxidizing geranylgeraniol or geranylgeraniol derivatives to form epoxygeranylgeraniol derivatives, reducing or hydrogenating the epoxygeranylgeraniol derivatives to produce epoxyphytol derivatives, and then deoxygenating the epoxyphytol derivatives to produce phytol, isophytol, phytene derivatives, isophytene derivatives, or mixtures thereof. The step of deoxygenating is carried out in the presence of deoxygenation catalysts, including rhenium trioxide compounds. The invention also provides methods for the synthesis of certain novel substituted epoxyphytyl compounds and substituted phytene compounds having removable protecting groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: John Anthony Hyatt
  • Patent number: 6139954
    Abstract: The invention relates to amorphous and crystalline fibers, particularly binder fibers, made from polyesters and the polyesters themselves. The polyesters of the invention are generally formed from a glycol component, such as a five carbon glycol, and a dicarboxylic acid component. The polyesters may be formed into a variety of products, for example fibers, composites and other molded articles. Preferably the polyesters are binder fibers for nonwovens, textile and industrial yarns and fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Leron R. Dean, William A. Haile, Richard L. McConnell
  • Patent number: 6136575
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward efficient, high-yield processes for making ascorbic acid, 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, and esters of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid. The processes comprise reacting the appropriate starting materials with a hydrolase enzyme catalyst such as a protease, an esterase, a lipase or an amidase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: John Clark Hubbs
  • Patent number: 6133439
    Abstract: This invention provides cellulose ester fibers having an intermediate degree of substitution per anhydroglucose unit (DS/AGU) along with pigments which act as photooxidation catalyst. The fibers are useful as filler materials for tobacco products. The filter materials thus provided are easily dispersible and biodegradable and do not persist in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles M. Buchanan, Robert M. Gardner, James E. Harris, Gether Irick, Jr., David V. Strickler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6132868
    Abstract: The invention relates to fibers, particularly binder fibers, made from copolyesters and the copolyesters themselves. The copolyesters of the invention are generally formed from 1,3- or 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, ethylene glycol and isophthalic acid or esters thereof and at least one dicarboxylic acid selected from terephthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 1,3- or 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid or esters thereof. Such copolyesters may be formed into a variety of products, especially binder fibers for nonwoven fabrics, textile and industrial yarns, and composites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Leron R. Dean, William A. Haile, Richard L. McConnell
  • Patent number: H1982
    Abstract: Water-dissipative copolyesters are primer coatings for substantially amorphous polymeric films providing improved ink adhesion and improved slip characteristics. The primer coatings comprise copolyester having repeat units from a dicarboxylic acid component comprising 8 to 25 mole percent 5-sulfoisophthalic acid and 75 to 92 mole percent isophthalic acid and repeat units from a diol component comprising 25 to 100 mole percent diethylene glycol, 0 to 75 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexane-dimethanol, and 0 to 30 mole percent ethylene glycol, based on 100 mole percent dicarboxylic acid component and 100 mole percent diol component. The polymeric films are preferably polyester, polycarbonate or poly(vinyl chloride). These copolyesters primer coatings are generally dispersed in water or water/alcohol mixtures to a solids content of 20 to 35 weight percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Alan Robert Dunn, Michael Lynn Cassell