Patents by Inventor Stephen Probert

Stephen Probert 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).

  • Method for making shapeable microcellular poly lactic acid articles
    Patent number: 8926876
    Abstract: A method for making a shapeable article from poly(lactic acid) includes treating solid poly(lactic acid) that results in the solid poly(lactic acid) having a crystallinity of at least 20% by weight based on the weight of the solid poly(lactic acid) and a gas concentration of 6% to 16% by weight based on the weight of the solid poly(lactic acid); and heating the solid poly(lactic acid) having said minimum crystallinity and gas concentration to produce a cellular poly(lactic acid) article that is shapeable. The shapeable cellular poly(lactic acid) article is advantageous in that the article can be further shaped by heat and/or pressure (or vacuum), such as via thermoforming, into a variety of useful products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Vipin Kumar, Krishna V. Nadella, Stephen Probert
  • Foaming methods for making cellular thermoplastic materials
    Patent number: 8357319
    Abstract: Methods for reducing the density of thermoplastic materials and the articles made therefrom having similar or improved mechanical properties to the solid or noncellular material. Also disclosed are improvements to foaming methods and the cellular structures of the foams made therefrom, and methods for altering the impact strength of solid or noncellular thermoplastic materials and the shaping of the materials into useful articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Krishna V. Nadella, Dustin Miller, Vipin Kumar, William F. Kuykendall, Stephen Probert
  • FOAMING METHODS FOR MAKING CELLULAR THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20120090764
    Abstract: Methods for reducing the density of thermoplastic materials and the articles made therefrom having similar or improved mechanical properties to the solid or noncellular material. Also disclosed are improvements to foaming methods and the cellular structures of the foams made therefrom, and methods for altering the impact strength of solid or noncellular thermoplastic materials and the shaping of the materials into useful articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: WASHINGTON, UNIVERSITY OF
    Inventors: Krishna V. Nadella, Dustin Miller, Vipin Kumar, William F. Kuykendall, Stephen Probert
  • Foaming methods for making cellular thermoplastic materials
    Patent number: 8092626
    Abstract: Methods for reducing the density of thermoplastic materials and the articles made therefrom having similar or improved mechanical properties to the solid or noncellular material. Also disclosed are improvements to foaming methods and the cellular structures of the foams made therefrom, and methods for altering the impact strength of solid or noncellular thermoplastic materials and the shaping of the materials into useful articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Krishna V. Nadella, Dustin Miller, Vipin Kumar, William F. Kuykendall, Stephen Probert
  • FOAMING METHODS FOR MAKING CELLULAR THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20090065136
    Abstract: Methods for reducing the density of thermoplastic materials and the articles made therefrom having similar or improved mechanical properties to the solid or noncellular material. Also disclosed are improvements to foaming methods and the cellular structures of the foams made therefrom, and methods for altering the impact strength of solid or noncellular thermoplastic materials and the shaping of the materials into useful articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: WASHINGTON, UNIVERSITY OF
    Inventors: Krishna V. Nadella, Dustin Miller, Vipin Kumar, William F. Kuykendall, Stephen Probert