Patents by Inventor Isao Noda

Isao Noda 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).

  • Water stable fibers and articles comprising starch, and methods of making the same
    Publication number: 20070079945
    Abstract: Water stable fibers and articles made therefrom are formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising destructured starch, polyhydric alcohol, acid, and optionally triglyceride. Processes for making water stable compositions may comprise melt extruding a mixture of destructured starch, polyhydric alcohol, acid, and optionally triglyceride, to form an extrudate, and heating the mixture, extrudate, or both to provide a water stable article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Isao Noda, Michael Satkowski, William Allen, James Knapmeyer
  • Water stable compositions and articles comprising starch and methods of making the same
    Publication number: 20070082982
    Abstract: Thermoplastic polymer compositions comprising starch and articles made therefrom are water stable or may be rendered so. One method of making water stable thermoplastic compositions comprises the steps of mixing destructured starch with polyhydric alcohol and acid, and forming an ester condensation reaction product from at least a portion of the polyhydric alcohol and acid. In some embodiments, a pre-polymer formed from the ester condensation reaction may be provided as a pre-polymer that is mixed with the starch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Isao Noda, Michael Satkowski, William Allen, James Knapmeyer
  • Method of and items for reducing latex exposure
    Patent number: 7166343
    Abstract: Methods of reducing exposure to latex comprise forming an item comprising a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising two randomly repeating monomer units. The first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure: wherein R1 is H, or C1-2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2; and the second randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure: wherein R2 is a C3-19 alkyl or C3-19 alkenyl. At least 50% of the randomly repeating monomer units have the structure of the first randomly repeating monomer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Isao Noda, Michael Matthew Satkowski, Gregory Churchill Ames
  • Method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal
    Patent number: 7153928
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily obtaining a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate by a solvent extraction method. A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal comprises mixing a solution of a polyhydroxyalkanoate in a good solvent with a poor solvent at 50 to 130° C. to precipitate a polyhydroxyalkanoate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignees: Kaneka Corporation, The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Koichi Kinoshita, Fumio Osakada, Yasuyoshi Ueda, Karunakaran Narasimhan, Angella Christine Cearley, Kenneth Yee, Isao Noda
  • Process for the extraction of polyhydroxyalkanoates from biomass
    Patent number: 7118897
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass, comprising admixing the biomass with an organic solvent for from 1 second to 15 minutes at a first temperature of from 5° C. below the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate to 10° C. above the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate and at a pressure of from 1 bar to 10 bar to provide a composition comprising the organic solvent and polyhydroxyalkanoate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventors: Karunakaran Narasimhan, Isao Noda, Michael Matthew Satkowski, Angella Christine Cearley, Michael Steven Gibson, Stanley James Welling
  • Method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal
    Patent number: 7098298
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for conveniently obtaining a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate by a solvent extraction method. A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal comprises precipitating a polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal using a monohydric alcohol having 4 to 10 carbon atoms as a extraction solvent, keeping a polyhydroxyalkanoate solution containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of water relative to the total amount of the solution warm at 70° C. or higher, and cooling the solution to below 70° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignees: Kaneka Corporation, Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Koichi Kinoshita, Fumio Osakada, Yasuyoshi Ueda, Karunakaran Narasimhan, Angella Christine Cearley, Kenneth Yee, Isao Noda
  • Molded or extruded articles comprising polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and an environmentally degradable thermoplastic polymer
    Patent number: 7098292
    Abstract: Environmentally degradable molded or extruded articles comprising a blend of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and an environmentally degradable thermoplastic polymer or copolymer are disclosed. Such compositions provide annealing cycle times to form molded or extruded articles that are less than annealing cycle times to form a molded or extruded article lacking the environmentally degradable thermoplastic polymer or copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jean Jianqun Zhao, Isao Noda, Gary Wayne Gilbertson, Drew Clifton McAvoy, Brian Francis Gray, David Harry Melik
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer/starch compositions for laminates and films
    Patent number: 7077994
    Abstract: Films comprising a blend of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and destructured starch are disclosed. Laminates having a first layer comprising a PHA copolymer and a second layer comprising a PHA copolymer/starch blend or thermoplastic starch are also disclosed. Disposable articles comprising the environmentally degradable films or laminates are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Eric Bryan Bond, Isao Noda
  • Process for the extraction of polyhydroxyalkanoates from biomass
    Publication number: 20060057692
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass, comprising admixing the biomass with an organic solvent for from 1 second to 15 minutes at a first temperature of from 5° C. below the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate to 10° C. above the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate and at a pressure of from 1 bar to 10 bar to provide a composition comprising the organic solvent and polyhydroxyalkanoate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Karunakaran Narasimhan, Isao Noda, Michael Satkowski, Angella Cearley, Michael Gibson, Stanley Welling
  • Method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate
    Publication number: 20050239998
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for obtaining a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate by a solvent extraction method without causing a significant molecular weight decrease. The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate which comprises extracting a polyhydroxyalkanoate from a polyhydroxyalkanoate-containing biomass having the water content of 5% by weight or less using an extraction solvent, crystallizing, and recovering the resultant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Koichi Kinoshita, Yoshifumi Yanagida, Fumio Osakada, Yasuyoshi Ueda, Karunakaran Narasimhan, Angella Cearley, Kenneth Yee, Isao Noda
  • Method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal
    Publication number: 20050228168
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for conveniently obtaining a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate by a solvent extraction method. A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal comprises precipitating a polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal using a monohydric alcohol having 4 to 10 carbon atoms as a extraction solvent, keeping a polyhydroxyalkanoate solution containing 0.1 to 10% by weight of water relative to the total amount of the solution warm at 70° C. or higher, and cooling the solution to below 70° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Koichi Kinoshita, Fumio Osakada, Yasuyoshi Ueda, Karunakaran Narasimhan, Angella Cearley, Kenneth Yee, Isao Noda
  • Method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal
    Publication number: 20050222373
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily obtaining a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate by a solvent extraction method. A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate crystal which comprises mixing a solution of a polyhydroxyalkanoate in a good solvent with a poor solvent at 50 to 130° C. to precipitate a polyhydroxyalkanoate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Koichi Kinoshita, Fumio Osakada, Yasuyoshi Ueda, Karunakaran Narasimhan, Angella Cearley, Kenneth Yee, Isao Noda
  • Fibers comprising starch and biodegradable polymers
    Patent number: 6946506
    Abstract: Environmentally degradable finely attenuated fibers produced by melt spinning a composition comprising destructurized starch, a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer are disclosed. The present invention is also directed to highly attenuated fibers containing thermoplastic polymer microfibrils which are formed within the starch matrix of the finely attenuated fiber. Nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the highly attenuated fibers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Eric Bryan Bond, Jean-Philippe Marie Autran, Larry Neil Mackey, Isao Noda, Hugh Joseph O'Donnell
  • Fibers comprising polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer/polylactic acid polymer or copolymer blends
    Patent number: 6905987
    Abstract: Environmentally degradable melt spun fibers comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and a polylactic acid polymer or copolymer are disclosed. A preferred configuration of the present invention is directed to environmentally degradable fibers comprising a sheath/core structure where the core comprises a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and the sheath comprises a polymer or copolymer of polylactic acid. Nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the environmentally degradable fibers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Isao Noda, Eric Bryan Bond, David Harry Melik
  • Agricultural items and agricultural methods comprising biodegradable copolymers
    Patent number: 6903053
    Abstract: An agricultural item comprising a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising two randomly repeating monomer units. The first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure: wherein R1 is H or a C1-2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2; and the second randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure: wherein R2 is a C3-19 alkyl or a C3-19 alkenyl. At least 50% of the randomly repeating monomer units have the structure of the first randomly repeating monomer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Isao Noda, Michael Matthew Satkowski
  • Fibers comprising starch and biodegradable polymers
    Patent number: 6890872
    Abstract: Environmentally degradable finely attenuated fibers produced by melt spinning a composition comprising destructurized starch, a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer are disclosed. The present invention is also directed to highly attenuated fibers containing thermoplastic polymer microfibrils which are formed within the starch matrix of the finely attenuated fiber. Nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the highly attenuated fibers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Eric Bryan Bond, Jean-Philippe Marie Autran, Larry Neil Mackey, Isao Noda, Hugh Joseph O'Donnell
  • Fibers comprising starch and polymers
    Publication number: 20050079785
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to highly attenuated fibers produced by melt spinning a composition comprising destructurized starch, a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer. The present invention is also directed to highly attenuated fibers containing microfibrils which are formed within the starch matrix. Nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the highly attenuated fibers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Eric Bond, Jean-Philippe Autran, Larry Mackey, Isao Noda, Hugh O'Donnell, Dean Phan
  • Plastic articles digestible by hot alkaline treatment
    Patent number: 6872802
    Abstract: A method of disposing of a biodegradable plastic comprises the step of exposing the biodegradable plastic to a hot alkaline solution. The biodegradable plastic is a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising two randomly repeating monomer units wherein the first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure: wherein R1 is H or a C1-2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2; and the second randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure: wherein R2 is a C3-19 alkyl or a C3-19 alkenyl. At least 50% of the randomly repeating monomer units have the structure of the first randomly repeating monomer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Isao Noda
  • Biodegradable coated substrates
    Publication number: 20050031882
    Abstract: Coated substrates include a coating and a substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, fabric, thread and yarn. The coating comprises a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer, wherein the biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprises a first randomly repeating monomer unit having the structure: wherein R1 is H or a C1-2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2; and a second randomly repeating monomer unit having the structure: wherein R2 is a C3-19 alkyl or a C3-19 alkenyl; and wherein at least 50% of the randomly repeating monomer units have the structure of the first randomly repeating monomer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Isao Noda, Michael Satkowski
  • Fibers comprising starch and biodegradable polymers
    Publication number: 20050026529
    Abstract: Environmentally degradable finely attenuated fibers produced by melt spinning a composition comprising destructurized starch, a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer are disclosed. The present invention is also directed to highly attenuated fibers containing thermoplastic polymer microfibrils which are formed within the starch matrix of the finely attenuated fiber. Nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the highly attenuated fibers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Eric Bond, Jean-Philippe Autran, Larry Mackey, Isao Noda, Hugh O'Donnell