Patents by Inventor Robert Estep

Robert Estep 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: 20080045637
    Abstract: A solid concentrate is provided having a combination of a transition metal present in an amount ranging from 1,000 to 40,000 ppm (weight by metal) and a polyester polymer present in an amount of at least 40 wt. % based on the weight of the concentrate. Concentrates made with highly modified polyester polymers are easy to compound with transition metals forming less brittle polymer upon melt extrusion. Bottle preforms and oxygen scavenging bottles can be made from these concentrates by combining solid polyester particles, solid polyamide particles, and solid these concentrate particles c into an melt processing zone, forming a melt, and forming an article directly from the melt. The b* color and the L* color and the haze levels of the preforms are improved over the preforms made with liquid carriers instead of solid concentrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Stewart, Emerson Sharpe, Benjamin Gamble, Steven Stafford, Robert Estep, James Williams, Thomas Clark
  • Publication number: 20080021142
    Abstract: A solid concentrate is provided having a combination of a transition metal present in an amount ranging from 1000 to 40,000 ppm (weight by metal) and a polyester polymer present in an amount of at least 40 wt. % based on the weight of the concentrate. Concentrates made with highly modified polyester polymers are easy to compound with transition metals forming less brittle polymer upon melt extrusion. Bottle preforms and oxygen scavenging bottles can be made from these concentrates by combining solid polyester particles, solid polyamide particles, and solid these concentrate particles c into an melt processing zone, forming a melt, and forming an article directly from the melt. The b* color and the L* color and the haze levels of the preforms are improved over the preforms made with liquid carriers instead of solid concentrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Stewart, Emerson Sharpe, Benjamin Gamble, Steven Stafford, Robert Estep, James Williams, Thomas Clark
  • Publication number: 20060148957
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for forming an article by combining a polyester polymer and an oxygen scavenging composition comprising a polyamide in the presence of zinc and a cobalt in a melt processing zone to form a melt; and forming an article such as a sheet or preform from the melt. Also provided are molten formulated polyester polymer compositions containing a blend of a polyethylene terephthalate polymer and a polyamide polymer along with zinc and cobalt. Articles made from the composition are resistant to the transmission of oxygen, possess short induction periods, and have high capacity for sustaining lengthy periods of low oxygen transmission through the wall of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicants: Constar International Inc., Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Mark Stewart, Robert Estep, Benjamin Gamble, Michael Cliffton, Donna Quillen, Lavonna Buehrig, Venkat Govindarajan, Matthew Dauzvardis
  • Publication number: 20060128861
    Abstract: A solid concentrate is provided having a combination of a transition metal present in an amount ranging from 1000 to 40,000 ppm (weight by metal) and a polyester polymer present in an amount of at least 40 wt. % based on the weight of the concentrate. Concentrates made with highly modified polyester polymers are easy to compound with transition metals forming less brittle polymer upon melt extrusion. Bottle preforms and oxygen scavenging bottles can be made from these concentrates by combining solid polyester particles, solid polyamide particles, and solid these concentrate particles c into an melt processing zone, forming a melt, and forming an article directly from the melt. The b* color and the L* color and the haze levels of the preforms are improved over the preforms made with liquid carriers instead of solid concentrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Mark Stewart, Emerson Sharpe, Benjamin Gamble, Steven Stafford, Robert Estep, James Williams, Thomas Clark
  • Patent number: D430000
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Shenandoah Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Estep, Jr., James F. Newman