Patents by Inventor Robert Blackburn

Robert Blackburn 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).

  • Publication number: 20240150780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desaturase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. In particular, the present invention provides ?3 destaurases, ?5 elongases and ?6 desaturases with novel activities. Also provided are methods and DNA constructs for transiently and/or stably transforming cells, particularly plant cells, with multiple genes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicants: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Grains Research and Development Corporation
    Inventors: James Robertson Petrie, Anne Maree Mackenzie, Qing Liu, Pushkar Shrestha, Peter David Nichols, Susan Irene Ellis Blackburn, Maged Peter Mansour, Stanley Suresh Robert, Dion Matthew Frederick Frampton, Xue-Rong Zhou, Surinder Pal Singh, Craig Christopher Wood
  • Publication number: 20240150782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desaturase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. In particular, the present invention provides ?3 desaturases, ?5 elongases and ?6 desaturases with novel activities. Also provided are methods and DNA constructs for transiently and/or stably transforming cells, particularly plant cells, with multiple genes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicants: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Grains Research and Development Corporation
    Inventors: James Robertson Petrie, Anne Maree Mackenzie, Qing Liu, Pushkar Shrestha, Peter David Nichols, Susan Irene Ellis Blackburn, Maged Peter Mansour, Stanley Suresh Robert, Dion Matthew Frederick Frampton, Xue-Rong Zhou, Surinder Pal Singh, Craig Christopher Wood
  • Publication number: 20240150779
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desaturase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. In particular, the present invention provides ?3 destaurases, ?5 elongases and ?6 desaturases with novel activities. Also provided are methods and DNA constructs for transiently and/or stably transforming cells, particularly plant cells, with multiple genes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicants: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Grains Research and Development Corporation
    Inventors: James Robertson Petrie, Anne Maree Mackenzie, Qing Liu, Pushkar Shrestha, Peter David Nichols, Susan Irene Ellis Blackburn, Maged Peter Mansour, Stanley Suresh Robert, Dion Matthew Frederick Frampton, Xue-Rong Zhou, Surinder Pal Singh, Craig Christopher Wood
  • Publication number: 20240150781
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desaturase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. In particular, the present invention provides ?3 destaurases, ?5 elongases and ?6 desaturases with novel activities. Also provided are methods and DNA constructs for transiently and/or stably transforming cells, particularly plant cells, with multiple genes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicants: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Grains Research and Development Corporation
    Inventors: James Robertson Petrie, Anne Maree Mackenzie, Qing Liu, Pushkar Shrestha, Peter David Nichols, Susan Irene Ellis Blackburn, Maged Peter Mansour, Stanley Suresh Robert, Dion Matthew Frederick Frampton, Xue-Rong Zhou, Surinder Pal Singh, Craig Christopher Wood
  • Patent number: 11976287
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of recombinant fatty acid synthesis, particularly in transgenic plants. The application describes genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and provides methods and vectors for the manipulation of fatty acid composition of plant oils. In particular, the invention provides constructs for achieving the integration of multiple heterologous genes involved in fatty acid synthesis into the plant genome, such that the resulting plants produce altered levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Also described are methods for enhancing the expression of fatty acid biosynthesis enzymes by co-expressing a silencing suppressor within the plant storage organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION, GRAINS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Robertson Petrie, Anne Maree Mackenzie, Qing Liu, Pushkar Shrestha, Peter David Nichols, Susan Irene Ellis Blackburn, Maged Peter Mansour, Stanley Suresh Robert, Dion Matthew Frederick Frampton, Xue-Rong Zhou, Surinder Pal Singh, Craig Christopher Wood
  • Patent number: 11745439
    Abstract: A flexible, self-supporting hybrid veil that is permeable to liquid and gas. The hybrid veil includes: (a) intermingled, randomly arranged fibres in the form of a nonwoven structure; (b) particles dispersed throughout the nonwoven structure, wherein a majority of the particles are penetrating through the thickness of the nonwoven structure; and (c) a polymeric or resinous binder present throughout the veil. Such hybrid veil can be incorporated into composite laminates, prepregs, fabrics and fibrous preforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Carmelo Luca Restuccia, Robert Blackburn
  • Publication number: 20220410435
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for manufacturing uncured, near-net shape plies. Such devices include: a plurality of spools, each dispensing a dry tow; optionally, a plurality of spreaders to spread the dry tows; optionally, a means to combine the dry tows into a plurality of tapes or bundles; a plurality of feeders, each carrying a tow, tape or bundle, and adapted to maintain the tows, tapes or bundles in a parallel arrangement; a cutting apparatus adapted to independently cut each individual tow, tape or bundle to a pre-determined length; optionally, a conveyor adapted to transport the cut tows, tapes or bundles away from the cutting apparatus; an in-line resin infuser adapted to impregnate the dry tows, tapes or bundles with resin material; and a receiver for the cut tows, tapes or bundles, wherein the cut tows, tapes or bundles are impregnated and configured in the form of a near-net shape ply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Cytec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Poynton, Robert Blackburn
  • Patent number: 11491748
    Abstract: A deformable, coated radius filler composed of a continuous or elongated fibrous structure and a tacky, resin surface coating formed by pulling a dry, continuous or elongated fibrous structure through a heated resin bath. The coated radius filler has an inner portion that is substantially free of resin and the resin surface coating has a substantially uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: CYTEC TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Dominique Ponsolle, Scott Alfred Rogers, Robert Blackburn, Jonathan Meegan
  • Publication number: 20220347940
    Abstract: A flexible, self-supporting hybrid veil that is permeable to liquid and gas. The hybrid veil includes: (a) intermingled, randomly arranged fibres in the form of a nonwoven structure; (b) particles dispersed throughout the nonwoven structure, wherein a majority of the particles are penetrating through the thickness of the nonwoven structure; and (c) a polymeric or resinous binder present throughout the veil. Such hybrid veil can be incorporated into composite laminates, prepregs, fabrics and fibrous preforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Carmelo Luca RESTUCCIA, Robert BLACKBURN
  • Patent number: 10836118
    Abstract: A manufacturing process, which includes: (i) preparing a preform; (ii) laying the preform within a mold; (iii) heating the mold to a predetermined temperature; and (iv) injecting a modified resin system, wherein the modified resin system is formulated to have a viscosity below a threshold viscosity at a specific temperature and a high level of toughness. In one embodiment, the modified resin system contains a combination of epoxies, a curing agent, core-shell rubber particles, a thermoplastic material in an amount of less than 7% by weight, wherein in a cured condition, the thermoplastic material is separated into aggregate domains from the base resin, each aggregate domain having an island-like morphology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Cytec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Edward Meegan, Robert Blackburn
  • Patent number: 10683592
    Abstract: A hybrid, woven textile material that can be used in the manufacturing of fiber-reinforced composite materials. The hybrid textile material is a woven fabric composed of unidirectional fibers interlaced with strips of non-woven fibers in a weaving pattern. In an embodiment, the hybrid textile material is porous or permeable with respect to liquid resins used in Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) processes and a preform formed from this textile material can be infused with liquid resins during such RTM processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Cytec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Blackburn, Samuel Jestyn Hill
  • Patent number: 10583615
    Abstract: A dry, fibrous tape for use in an automated placement process such as ATL or AFP and a preform produced therefrom. The preform is configured for resin infusion. The tape contains a layer of unidirectional fibers, at least one nonwoven veil bonded to one side of the fiber layer, and at least binding materials present within the tape. The preform produced from laying down such tape exhibits a low-bulk property that is close to the final thickness of the cured fiber-reinforced resin article and no further consolidation or compaction is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Cytec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Blackburn, Samuel Jestyn Hill, Dominique Ponsolle, Carmelo Luca Restuccia
  • Patent number: 10369773
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dry, self-supporting fibrous material, the fibers of which have been treated with a binder composition. The fibrous material can be slit into tapes or tows that are suitable for use in an Automated Tape Laying (ATL) or Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) process. This fibrous material is suitable for forming preforms which are configured to receive a matrix resin by resin infusion in the manufacturing of structural composite parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Dominique Ponsolle, Carmelo Luca Restuccia, William Jacobs, Robert Blackburn, Carmelo LoFaro, Richard Price, Marc Doyle, Mitchell Smith, Abdel Abusafieh
  • Publication number: 20190210307
    Abstract: A deformable, coated radius filler composed of a continuous or elongated fibrous structure and a tacky, resin surface coating formed by pulling a dry, continuous or elongated fibrous structure through a heated resin bath. The coated radius filler has an inner portion that is substantially free of resin and the resin surface coating has a substantially uniform thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: CYTEC TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Dominique Ponsolle, Scott Alfred Rogers, Robert Blackburn, Jonathan Meegan
  • Patent number: 10272621
    Abstract: A deformable, coated radius filler composed of a continuous or elongated fibrous structure and a tacky, resin surface coating formed by pulling a dry, continuous or elongated fibrous structure through a heated resin bath. The coated radius filler has an inner portion that is substantially free of resin and the resin surface coating has a substantially uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: CYTEC TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Dominique Ponsolle, Scott Alfred Rogers, Robert Blackburn, Jonathan Meegan
  • Publication number: 20180311912
    Abstract: A flexible, self-supporting hybrid veil that is permeable to liquid and gas. The hybrid veil includes: (a) intermingled, randomly arranged fibres in the form of a nonwoven structure; (b) particles dispersed throughout the nonwoven structure, wherein a majority of the particles are penetrating through the thickness of the nonwoven structure; and (c) a polymeric or resinous binder present throughout the veil. Such hybrid veil can be incorporated into composite laminates, prepregs, fabrics and fibrous preforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Carmelo Luca RESTUCCIA, Robert BLACKBURN
  • Patent number: 10112375
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dry, self-supporting fibrous material, the fibers of which have been treated with a binder composition. The fibrous material can be slit into tapes or tows that are suitable for use in an Automated Tape Laying (ATL) or Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) process. This fibrous material is suitable for forming preforms which are configured to receive a matrix resin by resin infusion in the manufacturing of structural composite parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Cytec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Dominique Ponsolle, Carmelo Luca Restuccia, William Jacobs, Robert Blackburn, Carmelo LoFaro, Richard Price, Marc Doyle, Mitchell Smith, Abdel Abusafieh
  • Publication number: 20180072037
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dry, self-supporting fibrous material, the fibers of which have been treated with a binder composition. The fibrous material can be slit into tapes or tows that are suitable for use in an Automated Tape Laying (ATL) or Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) process. This fibrous material is suitable for forming preforms which are configured to receive a matrix resin by resin infusion in the manufacturing of structural composite parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Dominique Ponsolle, Carmelo Luca Restuccia, William Jacobs, Robert Blackburn, Carmelo LoFaro, Richard Price, Marc Doyle, Mitchell Smith, Abdel Abusafieh
  • Patent number: 9902118
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to resin-soluble thermoplastic veils for use in liquid resin infusion processes, methods of manufacturing resin-soluble thermoplastic veils for use in liquid resin infusion processes, and methods of manufacturing composite articles using resin-soluble thermoplastic veils for use in liquid resin infusion applications. The resin-soluble thermoplastic veils according to embodiments of the invention and of which function as a toughening agent in composites having the veil incorporated therein have improved characteristics including, but not limited to, increased uniformity and decreased thickness relative to prior art veils. These characteristics translate into improvements in the processing of a composite article including, but not limited to, a substantial or complete elimination in premature dissolution of the veil during cure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CYTEC TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Dominique Ponsolle, Robert Blackburn, Billy Harmon, Richard Price, Marc Doyle
  • Publication number: 20170326819
    Abstract: A manufacturing process, which includes: (i) preparing a preform; (ii) laying the preform within a mold; (iii) heating the mold to a predetermined temperature; and (iv) injecting a modified resin system, wherein the modified resin system is formulated to have a viscosity below a threshold viscosity at a specific temperature and a high level of toughness. In one embodiment, the modified resin system contains a combination of epoxies, a curing agent, core-shell rubber particles, a thermoplastic material in an amount of less than 7% by weight, wherein in a cured condition, the thermoplastic material is separated into aggregate domains from the base resin, each aggregate domain having an island-like morphology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Cytec Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Jonathan Edward Meegan, Robert Blackburn