Patents by Inventor Li Nie

Li Nie 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: 6517625
    Abstract: Improved compositions for coating paper stock, methods of forming such compositions, and methods of coating paper stock with those compositions are provided. The compositions comprise an aqueous dispersion including therein from about 20-45% by weight filler (e.g., a starch such as wheat starch) and from about 6-18% by weight wheat gluten. Preferably, the gluten is initially modified with a reducing agent so that the average molecular weight of the gluten is less than about 1,000 kDa. The compositions have a viscosity of up to about 2000 cP and a solids content of from about 25-57% by weight, thus making them suitable for high speed coating of paper stock. The finished, coated stock may be conventionally printed to achieve high gloss end products. The compositions are preferably water soluble, thereby greatly facilitating repulping of the coated stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignees: MGP Ingredients, Inc., Lawrence Paper Company
    Inventors: Sukh Bassi, Michael D. Cain, Alan M. Hill, Clodualdo C. Maningat, Li Nie
  • Publication number: 20020121222
    Abstract: Improved compositions for coating paper stock, methods of forming such compositions, and methods of coating paper stock with those compositions are provided. The compositions comprise an aqueous dispersion including therein from about 20-45% by weight filler (e.g., a starch such as wheat starch) and from about 6-18% by weight wheat gluten. Preferably, the gluten is initially modified with a reducing agent so that the average molecular weight of the gluten is less than about 1,000 kDa. The compositions have a viscosity of up to about 2000 cP and a solids content of from about 25-57% by weight, thus making them suitable for high speed coating of paper stock. The finished, coated stock may be conventionally printed to achieve high gloss end products. The compositions are preferably water soluble, thereby greatly facilitating repulping of the coated stock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: MIDWEST GRAIN PRODUCTS
    Inventors: Sukh Bassi, Michael D. Cain, Alan M. Hill, Clodualdo C. Maningat, Li Nie
  • Patent number: 5977312
    Abstract: Wheat gluten protein-based biodegradable or edible films are produced using aqueous, essentially alcohol-free casting dispersions containing modified wheat protein and a plasticizer. The modified wheat protein is prepared by treating purified naturally occurring wheat protein with a reducing agent (e.g., sodium metabisulfite) in order to reduce the average molecular weight of the wheat protein and to cleave disulfide bonds therein. Such modified wheat gluten protein lowers the viscosity and allows increased solid contents in the casting dispersions, allowing fabrication of improved films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Midwest Grain Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sukh Bassi, Clodualdo C. Maningat, Rangaswamy Chinnaswamy, Li Nie
  • Patent number: 5965708
    Abstract: Gluten protein-based biodegradable or edible films are produced using aqueous, essentially alcohol-free casting dispersions containing modified protein (preferably wheat gluten protein) and a plasticizer. The modified protein is prepared by treating purified naturally occurring wheat protein with a reducing agent (e.g., sodium metabisulfite) in order to reduce the average molecular weight of the wheat protein and to cleave disulfide bonds therein. Such modified wheat gluten protein lowers the viscosity and allows increased solid contents in the casting dispersions, allowing fabrication of improved films using continuous casting techniques and without use of organic solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Midwest Grain Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sukh Bassi, Clodualdo C. Maningat, Rangaswamy Chinnaswamy, Li Nie, Michael K. Weibel, John J. Watson
  • Patent number: 5945086
    Abstract: Improved aqueous gliadin-containing cosmetic formulations are provided which include form about 0.5-10% by weight gliadin dispersed in an aqueous solvent system together with additional ingredients giving desired end properties. The formulations are preferably selected from the group consisting of hairsprays, hair shampoos and shampoo conditioners, hair styling gels, hair conditioners, instant conditioners, and hair reparatives, as well as sunscreens, shaving creams and bath and shower gels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Midwest Grain Products
    Inventors: Sukh Bassi, Larry Murphy, Clodualdo C. Maningat, Li Nie
  • Patent number: 5780013
    Abstract: Improved aqueous gliadin-containing hairspray formulations are provided which include form about 0.5-10% by weight gliadin dispersed in an aqueous alcohol-containing solvent system at a pH of from about 3-5.5. The preferred formulations have a VOC content of up to about 55% and contain little or no synthetic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Midwest Grain Products
    Inventors: Sukh Bassi, Larry Murphy, Clodualdo C. Maningat, Li Nie
  • Patent number: 5747648
    Abstract: Wheat gluten protein-based biodegradable or edible films are produced using aqueous, essentially alcohol-free casting dispersions containing modified wheat protein and a plasticizer. The modified wheat protein is prepared by treating purified naturally occurring wheat protein with a reducing agent (e.g., sodium metabisulfite) in order to reduce the average molecular weight of the wheat protein and to cleave disulfide bonds therein. Such modified wheat gluten protein lowers the viscosity and allows increased solid contents in the casting dispersions, allowing fabrication of improved films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Midwest Grain Products
    Inventors: Sukh Bassi, Clodualdo C. Maningat, Rangaswamy Chinnaswamy, Li Nie
  • Patent number: 5665152
    Abstract: A method of forming solid, non-edible biodegradable, grain protein-based articles is provided wherein a grain protein formulation is heated to a maximum temperature of up to about 80.degree. C. to create a substantially homogeneous and flowable mixture which can be formed into biodegradable articles. The formulation includes from about 20-85% by weight of grain protein, from about 5-75% by weight starch, up to about 14% by weight water, from about 10-40% by weight plasticizer, and at least about 0.01 by weight of a reducing agent such as sodium bisulfite for cleaving disulfide bonds present in the grain protein. Optional ingredients such as fillers, fiber, lubricant/mold release agents and colorants can also be used. The formulations can be processed in extrusion or injection molding equipment to create solid articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Midwest Grain Products
    Inventors: Sukh Bassi, Clodualdo C. Maningat, Rangaswamy Chinnaswamy, Li Nie
  • Patent number: 5610277
    Abstract: An improved alcohol-free method for fractionating gluten into gliadin and glutenin fractions is provided where an acidic dispersion of gluten is formed with a reducing agent (e.g., sodium metabisulfite) operable for breaking disulfide bonds in the gluten protein. Thereafter, the pH of the dispersion is raised to cause glutenin to precipitate while leaving gliadin suspended in the dispersion. The respective fractions can then be separated by decanting or centrifugation. In preferred processing, the dispersion is reacidified prior to separation in order to achieve a higher degree of separation of the glutenin and gliadin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Midwest Grain Products
    Inventors: Sukh Bassi, Clodualdo C. Maningat, Rangaswamy Chinnaswamy, Darren R. Gray, Li Nie