Patents by Inventor John Farrell Hughes

John Farrell Hughes 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).

  • Patent number: 7500800
    Abstract: A powder charging and delivery device which comprises a receptacle having a neck portion, the receptacle containing particles of a material which can be electrostatically charged and the receptacle having a reticulated, open pore, foam material disposed within the neck thereof, whereby as the particles are dispensed from the container they travel through the pores of the reticulated foam material and thereby become electrostatically charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited
    Inventors: John Farrell Hughes, Karen Louise Baxter, Malcolm Tom McKechnie
  • Patent number: 7192610
    Abstract: A method is provided for deactivating a Der-p and/or Der-f allergen which comprises volatilizing into a space to be treated a deactivating amount of a volatile oil selected from cajeput oil (tea tree oil) or an oil comprising one or more terpene hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignees: Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited, University of Southampton
    Inventors: John Farrell Hughes, Karen Louise Jerrim, Malcolm Tom McKechnie
  • Patent number: 6877271
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispersing a volatile composition, which method comprises dispersing the volatile composition into an air steam; and generating an ion wind, thereby causing the molecules of the composition to become electrically charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignees: Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited, University of Southampton
    Inventors: John Farrell Hughes, Rodney Thomas Fox, Jennifer Jane Knapp, Neale Mark Harrison, Lindsey Faye Whitmore
  • Publication number: 20040154214
    Abstract: A method of dispersing a volatile composition which method comprises dispersing a volatile composition into an air steam; and generating an ion wind, thus causing the molecules of the volatile to become electrically charged. An apparatus for use in the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicants: Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited, University of Southampton, of the United Kingdon
    Inventors: John Farrell Hughes, Rodney Thomas Fox, Jennifer Jane Knapp, Neale Mark Harrison, Lindsey Faye Whitmore
  • Patent number: 6761773
    Abstract: A method for controlling and removing dust and other fine particles in a material comprising i) electrostatically charging carrier particles in powder form to give the carrier particles a minimum charge to mass ratio of +/−1×10−4 C/kg, ii) delivering the electrostatical charged carrier particles to the material, whereby the dust and other fine particles in the material agglomerate with the charged carrier particles and iii) removing the resultant agglomerates from the material (for example by vacuuming or brushing).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignees: Southampton University, Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Malcolm Tom McKechnie, Paul Terence Gaynor, John Farrell Hughes, Jonathan Swingler
  • Patent number: 6701663
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispersing a volatile composition, which comprises dispersing the composition into an air stream and generating an ion wind, thereby causing the molecules of the composition to become electrically charged. The composition can be an insect repellent, an insecticide, an anti-microbial, an anti-allergenic or a room-fragrancing composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignees: Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited, University of Southampton
    Inventors: John Farrell Hughes, Rodney Thomas Fox, Jennifer Jane Knapp, Neale Mark Harrison, Lindsey Faye Whitmore
  • Patent number: 6612510
    Abstract: A method of improving the spraying of liquid droplets from a spray device onto a surface which method comprises imparting a unipolar charge to the said liquid droplets by double layer charging during the spraying of the liquid droplets from the spray device, the unipolar charge being at a level such that the said droplets have a charge to mass ratio of at least ±1×10−4 C/kg, whereby the charged droplets of the liquid are mutually repelled thereby increasing the spread of the droplets from a central spray line extending from the head of the spray device and avoiding coalescence of the droplets, thus providing a more even coverage of the surface which is to be sprayed. In particular, the method enables liquid droplets to be sprayed onto a surface which is obscured by all object located between the surface and the spray device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignees: University of Southampton, Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Rodney Thomas Fox, Neale Harrison, John Farrell Hughes, Duncan Roger Harper, Lindsey Faye Whitmore
  • Patent number: 6592813
    Abstract: An improved method of counteracting or neutralizing airborne malodour comprising directing at the source of the malodour liquid droplets from a spray device containing a malodour counteracting composition, the improved method comprising imparting a unipolar charge to the said liquid droplets by double layer charging during the spraying of the liquid droplets by the spray device, the unipolar charge being at a level such that the said droplets have a charge to mass ratio of at least ±1×10−4C/kg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignees: University of Southampton, Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Rodney Thomas Fox, Neale Harrison, John Farrell Hughes, Duncan Roger Harper, Lindsey Faye Whitmore
  • Publication number: 20030086991
    Abstract: A method is provided for deactivating a Der-p and/or Der-f allergen which comprises volatilizing into a space to be treated a deactivating amount of a volatile oil selected from cajeput oil (tea tree oil) or an oil comprising one or more terpene hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: RECKITT BENCKISER (UK) LIMITED
    Inventors: John Farrell Hughes, Karen Louise Jerrim, Malcolm Tom McKechnie
  • Patent number: 6482357
    Abstract: An improved method of denaturing or deactivating an airborne allergen comprising directing at the airborne source of the allergen liquid droplets from a spray device containing a liquid composition which includes an allergen denaturant or allergen deactivant, the improved method comprising imparting a unipolar charge to the said liquid droplets by double layer charging during the spraying of the liquid droplets by the spray device, the unipolar charge being at a level such that the said droplets have a charge to mass ratio of at leaset ±1×10−4 C/kg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Limited
    Inventors: Rodney Thomas Fox, Neale Harrison, John Farrell Hughes, Duncan Roger Harper, Lindsey Faye Whitmore
  • Patent number: 6279834
    Abstract: A method of reducing the droplet sizes of a composition sprayed from an aerosol spray device comprising a compressed gas propellant, which method comprises imparting a unipolar charge to the liquid droplets by double layer charging during the spraying of the liquid droplets from the aerosol spray device, the unipolar charge being at a level such that the said droplets have a charge to mass ratio of at least +/−1×10−4 C/kg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Reckitt & Colman Products Limited
    Inventors: Rodney Thomas Fox, Neale Mark Harrison, John Farrell Hughes, Lindsey Faye Whitmore
  • Patent number: 6199766
    Abstract: A method of killing flying insects which method comprises spraying into the air in which insects are flying liquid droplets of an insecticidal composition, a unipolar charge being imparted to the said liquid droplets by double layer charging and charge separation during spraying, the unipolar charge being at a level such that the said droplets have a charge to mass ratio of at least +/−1×10−4 C/kg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignees: University of Southampton, Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Ltd.
    Inventors: Rodney Thomas Fox, Neale Mark Harrison, John Farrell Hughes, Lindsey Faye Whitmore
  • Patent number: 6032406
    Abstract: An insect trap device comprising a housing, the housing having an interior which is in communication with the atmosphere outside the device, the housing containing:(i) an insect attractant source;(ii) means for generating an ion wind to facilitate dispersal of the insect attractant source into the atmosphere outside the housing; and(iii) insect retaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: University of Southampton
    Inventors: Philip Edwin Howse, John Farrell Hughes, Graham Leslie Hearn
  • Patent number: 5800605
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of electrostatically charged particles of a high resistivity material which process comprises incorporating a unipolar charge into the material at a temperature at or above the glass transition temperature thereof or above the melting point thereof, the said unipolar charge being incorporated into the bulk of the material and the charged material being subsequently comminuted, or the said charge being incorporated into the material while forming particles thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: University of Southampton
    Inventor: John Farrell Hughes