Patents Examined by Paul R. Michl
  • Patent number: 6384137
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a molded resin product and resin composition form making the same. The molded resin product includes at least one thick wall portion, at least one thin wall portion, and at least one thickness changing portion extending between the thick wall portion and the thin wall portion. The resin composition being used for forming the molded resin product includes 0.01-0.1 part by weight of a delustering agent and 100 parts by weight of blend components comprising: 30-50% by weight of a polypropylene block copolymer containing 4-20% by weight of ethylene, 0-10% by weight of polyethylene, 5-15% by weight of a propylene/butene copolymer, and 40-60% by weight of an ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruyasu Mizutani, Yasuaki Tanaka, Tadashi Yamamoto, Chisato Masuya
  • Patent number: 6383653
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive/cohesive exhibits excellent cohesive body properties, and other desirable features, even when exposed to heat and polysiloxane based lubricants, such as in a laser printer. The formulation comprises 100 parts by weight natural rubber (e.g. electrosterically stabilized natural rubber graft and block terpolymer), and expressed as percentages by weight of the rubber the following components: about 5-35% (e.g. about 28%) acrylate monomer or monomers (such as methyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, and/or isobornyl methacrylate); about 0.5-8% acrylic acid and/or about 1-10% 4-acetoxystyrene; about 0-20% ethyl hexyl acrylate; about 1-50% (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Moore North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Milind M. Vaidya
  • Patent number: 6384125
    Abstract: This invention is a process for making modified silica filler comprising the steps of: (A) contacting an acidic aqueous suspension of precipitated or colloidal silica, optionally in the presence of a surfactant and/or a water-miscible solvent, with a combination of (a) a functionalizing coupling agent, and (b) an organometallic hydrophobing compound in a weight ratio of (a) to (b) of at least 0.001 to 1 to form an acidic aqueous suspension of chemically treated silica filler having a pH of 2.0 or less (B) treating the acidic aqueous suspension of the chemically treated filler with an acid-neutralizing agent to increase the pH of the suspension to a range of from greater than 2.0 to 10, and (C) recovering the chemically treated filler. This invention is also modified silica filler that has a pH of from about 5.0 to 10.0, where the silica filler is made by the method of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Debora Frances Bergstrom, Lisa Marie Boswell, Mark David Fisher, James Richard Hahn, Timothy A. Okel, Clifford Carlton Reese
  • Patent number: 6384124
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-film-forming latex of dispersed particles which may be used in an electrophoretic display, comprising: a) a highly fluorinated liquid solvent, and b) dispersed particles comprising a polymer comprising units according to formula I: wherein each (fcp) is independently selected from highly fluorinated polymer chains and each Q is independently selected from —H and straight or branched non-fluorinated polymer chains (hcp). Latexes of dispersed particles having a very small particle size are especially provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Jimmie Rae Baran, Jr., Naiyong Jing
  • Patent number: 6384116
    Abstract: The specification discloses a binder composition comprising a urea formaldehyde resin modified with a water soluble non-ionic amine oxide and optionally further modified with an anionic acrylic latex and/or a water soluble polymer comprising 40-100% by weight, based on polymer weight, of a polymerized ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, the polymer having a weight average molecular weight from 100,000 to 2,000,000. Glass fiber mats bonded with the binder composition as well as roofing products, e.g., shingles, prepared from the glass mats bonded with the binder composition of this invention are also disclosed. The binder composition containing the amine oxide provides superior tear strength to glass fiber mats and with the use of the latex and/or water soluble polymer an improved tensile strength of the mats, as well as to asphalt roofing and other products made therefrom while maintaining the high tear strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Borden Chemical, Inc.
    Inventors: Lock-Lim Chan, Peter DeBaun Wallace
  • Patent number: 6380294
    Abstract: A blend of polymeric materials comprising (A) of from about 1 to about 99.99 weight percent based on the combined weights of Components A, B and C of at least one substantially random interpolymer; and wherein said interpolymer; (1) contains of from about 0.5 to about 65 mole percent of polymer units derived from; (a) at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer, or (b) at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, or (c) a combination of at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer and at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer; (2) contains of from about 35 to about 99.5 mole percent of polymer units derived from at least one aliphatic &agr;-olefin having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; (3) has a molecular weight (Mn) greater than about 1,000; (4) has a melt index (I2) of from about 0.01 to about 1,000; (5) has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of from about 1.5 to about 20; and (B) of from about 99 to about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Susan J. Babinec, Mechelle A. Blanchard, Martin J. Guest, Brian W. Walther, Bharat I. Chaudhary, Russell P. Barry
  • Patent number: 6380336
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer capable of forming a water- and oil-repellent agent that enables binding to textiles and other materials without the production of formaldehyde. The copolymer according to the present invention comprises a) a fluoroaliphatic radical-containing agent, (b) stearyl (meth)acrylate; (c) a chlorine-containing compound; and (d) a monomer selected from those that contain an anhydride functional group or are capable of forming an anhydride functional group. The present invention further provides a water and oil repellency-imparting composition for fibrous and other substrates, the composition comprising the above copolymer together with a catalyst, such as sodium hypophosphite, for forming anhydrides from the acid-containing monomers in the copolymer. The composition can further optionally comprise other additives such as, e.g., poly(acrylic acid); an extender; a softener; an antioxidant; a surfactant; and/or a plasticizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Nano-Tex, LLC
    Inventors: David S. Soane, David A. Offord
  • Patent number: 6379804
    Abstract: A coating is prepared by providing a plurality of metallic flake particles, depositing a surface-protective applied layer on the particle surfaces to form protected particles, and mixing the protected particles with a binder precursor to form a coating mixture. The coating mixture is applied to a substrate. The surface-protective applied layer is preferably silica, which is deposited by a sol-gel process from a tetraethyl orthosilicate solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John F. Ackerman, Andrew J. Skoog, Jane A. Murphy, Matthew B. Buczek, Brian K. Flandermeyer, Israel S. Jacobs, Daniel G. Backman
  • Patent number: 6380300
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a coolant gel composition containing propenamide polymers, a paraben-based preservative, and water in certain amounts to form a composition having gel strength, elasticity, and cold retention properties to enable the gel to function as a color variation inducing material for low temperature thermochromic materials. The nature of the instant cooling gel renders it suitable for use in a hand operated color variation inducing device in the toy field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Abimael Cordova
  • Patent number: 6380295
    Abstract: This invention is of a hybrid organoclay that consists of an organic chemical/phyllosilicate clay intercalate that has been ion-exchanged with quaternary ammonium compounds. Since this hybrid organoclay is hydrophobic, it can be washed in water to remove reaction salts and excess water soluble or water dispersible polymers to give a clean product via inexpensive means such as filtration. This allows a better dispersing composition to be prepared without the difficulties of isolation presented by prior art which uses energy intensive means to remove the bulk of the water from the final product and cannot be easily washed. In one aspect, the present invention provides a solid clay/chemical composition that comprises: (a) one or more smectite clays, (b) a quaternary ammonium compound which reacts via an ion exchange mechanism with the smectite clay, and (c) one or more non-anionic organic materials that intercalate with the clay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Rheox Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Ross, Jacob Kaizerman
  • Patent number: 6376594
    Abstract: A conductive member is used in a state in which the conductive member maintains contact with a subject member. The conductive member has a single-body structure and is formed of a polymeric base material that contains a conducting filler. A portion of the conductive member in which the density of the conducting filler is lower than that in the remaining portion or substantially zero extends 2-20 &mgr;m inward from a contacting end of the conductive member at which the conductive member abuts the subject member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignees: Hokushin Corporation, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Gouki Sasagawa, Masato Ogasawara, Tetsuya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6376597
    Abstract: A pigment dispersion comprising pigment, an aqueous carrier selected from water and a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent, and a pigment dispersant is described. The pigment dispersant is prepared by polymerizing (i) at least one prepolymer having a radically polymerizable group, and (ii) at least one second monomer. The prepolymer is prepared by controlled radical polymerization, e.g., atom transfer radical polymerization, of at least one radically polymerizable first monomer. The second monomer forms a polymeric backbone segment of the pigment dispersant, and the prepolymer forms polymeric segments that are pendent to the backbone. The backbone segment of the pigment dispersant in hydrophobic, while at least a portion of each pendent polymeric segment is hydrophilic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Simion Coca, Gregory J. McCollum, James B. O'Dwyer, Brian E. Woodworth
  • Patent number: 6376616
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having anionic functional groups that is useful as a pigment dispersant in waterborne coating compositions, particularly in anodic electrocoat compositions. The compound comprises an acrylic backbone having a stabilizing substituent and a plurality of anionic groups. The anionic groups result from the incorporation of a plurality of acid groups into the acrylic backbone followed by reaction with organic amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy S. December
  • Patent number: 6372862
    Abstract: The present invention provides phenolic resin-based adhesives which do not produce waste water and industrial wastes and which have good adhesive force, especially after being exposed to thermal history. That is, the present invention provides a phenolic resin-based adhesive composition which contains a polyvinyl butyral, a novolak type phenolic resin or a novolak type phenolic resin and a resol type phenolic resin, and hexamethylenetetramine and which is obtained by uniformly melt-mixing these components, or a phenolic resin-based adhesive composition which contains a polyvinyl butyral, an epoxy resin, a novolak type phenolic resin or a novolak type phenolic resin and a resol type phenolic resin, and hexamethylenetetramine and which is obtained by uniformly melt-mixing these components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Durez Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Ozeki
  • Patent number: 6372838
    Abstract: The present invention provides a two-step method of making a latex in a highly fluorinated liquid solvent, including a first step of polymerizing together a mixture of: i) 1-2 parts by weight of one or more non-fluorinated free-radically-polymerizable monomers, and ii) 1-9 parts by weight of one or more highly fluorinated macromers terminated at one or more sites with free-radically-polymerizable groups to form a dispersion of seed particles; and a second step of polymerizing together said seed particles with an additional 10-1,000 percent by weight, relative to the total weight of the seed particles, of one or more non-fluorinated free-radically-polymerizable monomers. The present invention additionally provides a fine latex comprising a highly fluorinated liquid solvent and dispersed particles having an average particle size of 250 nm or less and more preferably 200 nm or less. The latexes of the present invention may be useful in an electrophoretic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Prabhakara Satyauolu Rao, Jimmie Rae Baran, Jr., Naiyong Jing
  • Patent number: 6372842
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of using an aqueous composition or dispersion containing a water-soluble or water-dispersible synthetic polymer, and compositions formed thereof. The aqueous composition or dispersion is added to agricultural spray compositions, ink compositions, deicing or anti-icing compositions, latex paint and coating compositions, cleaner compositions, adhesives, fire-extinguishing chemical compositions, hydro-metallurgy/electro-winning compositions, compositions having organosilanes, personal care compositions, water-based hydraulic compositions, dust control compositions, and textile finish compositions, to impart properties including aerosol control, spatter control, shear stability, rheology control, transfer efficiency, oil/water reduction, sling control, emollient performance, film forming capability, surface activity, encapsulent ability, lubricity, thickening, and anti-wear capability, to the resultant composition formed thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan A. Grisso, Robert E. Quinn, Sanjay N. Kalhan, Edward J. Konzman, Saurabh S. Lawate, James H. Bush, Joseph W. Pialet, Paul Walsh, Carlos A. Piedrahita, Philip R. Miller, Alan C. Clark, David L. Facchiano, Al E. Haas, Clifford Kowall, Richard A. Denis
  • Patent number: 6372822
    Abstract: Elastomer masterbatch is processed in a continuous compounder having multiple parallel elongate rotors axially oriented in an elongate processing chamber. Optionally, additional materials are compounded into the masterbatch, e.g., additives, other elastomeric compositions, etc. Preferably, the masterbatch then is further processed in an open mill. Excellent control of Mooney Viscosity is achieved. In certain preferred embodiments, elastomer composites are produced by novel continuous flow methods and apparatus in which fluid streams of particulate filler and elastomer latex are fed to the mixing zone of a coagulum reactor to form a coagulated mixture in semi-confined flow continuously from the mixing zone through a coagulum zone to a discharge end of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Bin Chung, Susan W. Green, Ivan Z. Podobnik, Joseph Cianciolo
  • Patent number: 6372857
    Abstract: The invention relates to rubber mixtures of at least one rubber containing double bonds, at least one rubber gel and at least one masked bismercaptan, and to vulcanization products and rubber shaped articles produced therefrom. The vulcanization products produced from the rubber mixtures according to the present invention show an improvement in the modulus level, a reduction in the DIN abrasion and a reduction in the heat build-up under dynamic stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Obrecht, Winfried Jeske
  • Patent number: 6372817
    Abstract: A friction material composition comprising (a) a fibrous material, (b) a binder containing a liquid rubber and (c) a friction regulator containing cashew dust is produced by coating the cashew dust with the liquid rubber, adding the fibrous material, remaining binder other than the liquid rubber and remaining friction regulator other than the cashew dust to the cashew dust coated with the liquid rubber, and then mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Kinouchi, Yasuhiro Hara, Junya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6369146
    Abstract: This invention provides water-based compositions, particularly coating, ink, fountain solution, adhesive and agricultural compositions, manifesting reduced equilibrium and dynamic surface tension by the incorporation of a surface tension reducing amount of certain malate diester compounds of the structure where R1 and R2 are C3 to C6 alkyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Rodney Lassila, Caroline Sassano Slone