Patents by Inventor Donald L. Butcher

Donald L. Butcher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Process for treating textile substrates
    Patent number: 6676710
    Abstract: A process for treating a textile substrate, the process including the steps of providing a textile substrate; providing a treatment bath; entraining a transport material in the treatment bath wherein the transport material further comprises a treatment material dissolved or suspended therein and wherein the transport material is substantially immiscible with the treatment bath; and contacting the textile substrate with the transport material in the treatment bath to thereby treat the textile substrate with the treatment material in the transport material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Carl Brent Smith, Walter A. Hendrix, Donald L. Butcher
  • Method for introducing dyes and other chemicals into a textile treatment system
    Patent number: 6615620
    Abstract: A process for introducing a textile treatment material into a textile treatment system, particularly a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SCF—CO2) treatment system. The process includes the steps of providing a preparation vessel in fluid communication with a textile treatment system; loading a textile treatment material into the preparation vessel; dissolving or suspending the textile treatment material in near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel; and introducing the dissolved or suspended textile treatment material into the textile treatment system. The textile treatment material can be selected from a group including a brightening agent, a whitening agent and a dye. A system suitable for use in carrying out the process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Walter A. Hendrix, Gerardo A. Montero, C. Brent Smith, Donald L. Butcher
  • Process for treating textile substrates
    Publication number: 20020108183
    Abstract: A process for treating a textile substrate, the process including the steps of providing a textile substrate; providing a treatment bath; entraining a transport material in the treatment bath wherein the transport material further comprises a treatment material dissolved or suspended therein and wherein the transport material is substantially immiscible with the treatment bath; and contacting the textile substrate with the transport material in the treatment bath to thereby treat the textile substrate with the treatment material in the transport material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Carl Brent Smith, Walter A. Hendrix, Donald L. Butcher
  • Method for introducing dyes and other chemicals into a textile treatment system
    Publication number: 20010037530
    Abstract: A process for introducing a textile treatment material into a textile treatment system, particularly a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SCF—CO2) treatment system. The process includes the steps of providing a preparation vessel in fluid communication with a textile treatment system; loading a textile treatment material into the preparation vessel; dissolving or suspending the textile treatment material in near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel; and introducing the dissolved or suspended textile treatment material into the textile treatment system. The textile treatment material can be selected from a group including a brightening agent, a whitening agent and a dye. A system suitable for use in carrying out the process is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Walter A. Hendrix, Gerardo A. Montero, C. Brent Smith, Donald L. Butcher
  • Method for introducing dyes and other chemicals into a textile treatment system
    Patent number: 6261326
    Abstract: A process for introducing a textile treatment material into a textile treatment system, particularly a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SCF-CO2) treatment system. The process includes the steps of providing a preparation vessel in fluid communication with a textile treatment system; loading a textile treatment material into the preparation vessel; dissolving or suspending the textile treatment material in near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel; and introducing the dissolved or suspended textile treatment material into the textile treatment system. The textile treatment material can be selected from a group including a brightening agent, a whitening agent and a dye. A system suitable for use in carrying out the process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Walter A. Hendrix, Gerardo A. Montero, C. Brent Smith, Donald L. Butcher