Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Smith
Thomas W. Smith 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).
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Patent number: 6167790Abstract: The invention relates to foam structures with enhanced physical properties which can be used in the areas of packaging, athletics, water sports, and construction. In general, the structures are laminated polymer foams that include a core of a low density foam and one or more skins of relatively high density foam covering the core. The skins provide improved physical properties to the foam structures by improving the flexural strength, resistance to bending, and resulting damage from bending in the laminated foam structure while modestly increasing the weight of the laminated structure, for example. Uses of the foam structures include, but are not limited to, packaging materials, gym mats, body boards, or eaves fillers. The skin can act as a hinge to fold a die cut piece into a collapsible packaging system.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1998Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: Sentinel Products Corp.Inventors: John D. Bambara, Richard Bambara, Scott C. Smith, Thomas W. Smith
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Patent number: 6151042Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising a polymer with a weight average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000, said polymer containing at least some monomer repeat units with a first, photosensitivity-imparting substituent which enables crosslinking or chain extension of the polymer upon exposure to actinic radiation, said polymer also containing a second, thermal sensitivity-imparting substituent which enables further crosslinking or chain extension of the polymer upon exposure to temperatures of about 140.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1998Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Thomas W. Smith, Timothy J. Fuller, Ram S. Narang, David J. Luca
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Patent number: 6142618Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid deposition apparatus comprising (a) a fluid supply, (b) a porous fluid distribution member in operative connection with the fluid supply, enabling wetting of the fluid distribution member with a fluid, and (c) a porous metering membrane situated on the fluid distribution member, whereby the metering membrane enables uniform metering of the fluid from the fluid distribution member onto a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1998Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Thomas W. Smith, Samuel Kaplan, Kathleen M. McGrane, David J. Luca, John S. Facci, Michael J. Levy
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Patent number: 6139920Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising a blend of (a) a thermally reactive polymer selected from the group consisting of resoles, novolacs, thermally reactive polyarylene ethers, and mixtures thereof; and (b) a photoreactive epoxy resin that is photoreactive in the absence of a photocationic initiator.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1998Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Kathleen M. McGrane
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Patent number: 6124372Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising a polymer with a weight average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000, said polymer containing at least some monomer repeat units with a first, photosensitivity-imparting substituent which enables crosslinking or chain extension of the polymer upon exposure to actinic radiation, said polymer also containing a second, thermal sensitivity-imparting substituent which enables further crosslinking or chain extension of the polymer upon exposure to temperatures of about 140.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1996Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Thomas W. Smith, Timothy J. Fuller, Ram S. Narang, David J. Luca
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Patent number: 6087414Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises reacting a polymer of the general formula ##STR1## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR2## B is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR3##Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1998Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Fuller, Ram S. Narang, Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Raymond K. Crandall
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Patent number: 6042640Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises contacting a sulfur-containing solvent with an oxidizing agent, said sulfur-containing solvent containing odor-causing impurities, thereby reducing odor. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a process for preparing an ink composition which comprises: (a) contacting a sulfur-containing solvent with an oxidizing agent, said sulfur-containing solvent containing odor-causing impurities, thereby reducing odor; and (b) admixing the sulfur-containing solvent with water and a colorant, thereby forming an ink composition.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Louis V. Isganitis, Thomas W. Smith
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Patent number: 6022095Abstract: Disclosed is an improved composition comprising a photopatternable polymer containing at least some monomer repeat units with photosensitivity-imparting substituents, said photopatternable polymer being of the general formula ##STR1## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR2## B is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR3## or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a thermal ink jet printhead with the aforementioned polymer and a thermal ink jet printhead containing therein a layer of a crosslinked or chain extended polymer of the above formula.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1998Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Ram S. Narang, Timothy J. Fuller, Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Ralph A. Mosher
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Patent number: 6020119Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises reacting a polymer of the general formula ##STR1## or ##STR2## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR3## B is one of several specified groups, such as or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units, with a halomethylethyl ether, a hydrohalic acid, and acetic acid in the presence of a halogen-containing Lewis acid catalyst, thereby forming a halomethylated polymer.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1999Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Daniel A. Foucher, Nancy C. Stoffel, Roger T. Janezic, Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Bidan Zhang
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Patent number: 5994425Abstract: Disclosed is an improved composition comprising a photopatternable polymer containing at least some monomer repeat units with photosensitivity-imparting substituents, said photopatternable polymer being of the general formula ##STR1## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR2## B is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR3## or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a thermal ink jet printhead with the aforementioned polymer and a thermal ink jet printhead containing therein a layer of a crosslinked or chain extended polymer of the above formula.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1996Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Ram S. Narang, Timothy J. Fuller, Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Ralph A. Mosher
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Patent number: 5889077Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises reacting a polymer of the general formula ##STR1## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR2## B is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR3## or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units, with (i) a formaldehyde source, and (ii) an unsaturated acid in the presence of an acid catalyst, thereby forming a curable polymer with unsaturated ester groups. Also disclosed is a process for preparing an ink jet printhead with the above polymer.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1996Date of Patent: March 30, 1999Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Fuller, Ram S. Narang, Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Raymond K. Crandall
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Patent number: 5876813Abstract: The invention relates to foam structures with enhanced physical properties which can be used in the areas of packaging, athletics, water sports, and construction. In general, the structures are laminated polymer foams that include a core of a low density foam and one or more skins of relatively high density foam covering the core. The skins provide improved physical properties to the foam structures by improving the flexural strength, resistance to bending, and resulting damage from bending in the laminated foam structure while modestly increasing the weight of the laminated structure, for example. Uses of the foam structures include, but are not limited to, packaging materials, gym mats, body boards, or eaves fillers. The skin can act as a hinge to fold a die cut piece into a collapsible packaging system.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 1996Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Senitnel Products CorpInventors: John D. Bambara, Richard Bambara, Scott C. Smith, Thomas W. Smith
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Patent number: 5761809Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises reacting a haloalkylated aromatic polymer with a material selected from the group consisting of unsaturated ester salts, alkoxide salts, alkylcarboxylate salts, and mixtures thereof, thereby forming a curable polymer having functional groups corresponding to the selected salt. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a process for preparing an ink jet printhead with the curable polymer thus prepared.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1996Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Fuller, Ram S. Narang, Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Raymond K. Crandall
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Patent number: 5753783Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises reacting a polymer of the general formula ##STR1## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR2## B is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR3## or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units, with an acetyl halide and dimethoxymethane in the presence of a halogen-containing Lewis acid catalyst and methanol, thereby forming a haloalkylated polymer. In a specific embodiment, the haloalkylated polymer is then reacted further to replace at least some of the haloalkyl groups with photosensitivity-imparting groups. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a thermal ink jet printhead with the aforementioned polymer.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1997Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Fuller, Ram S. Narang, Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Raymond K. Crandall
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Patent number: 5739254Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises reacting a polymer of the general formula ##STR1## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR2## B is one of several specified groups, such as ##STR3## or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units, with an acetyl halide and dimethoxymethane in the presence of a halogen-containing Lewis acid catalyst and methanol, thereby forming a haloalkylated polymer. In a specific embodiment, the haloalkylated polymer is then reacted further to replace at least some of the haloalkyl groups with photosensitivity-imparting groups. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a thermal ink jet printhead with the aforementioned polymer.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1996Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Fuller, Ram S. Narang, Thomas W. Smith, David J. Luca, Raymond K. Grandall
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Patent number: 5717283Abstract: An external field activated display sheet is disclosed which comprises a plurality of hourglass shaped capsules for each pixel of an image. Each hourglass shaped capsule contains ink in one of its chambers. The ink in each hourglass shaped capsule is responsive to an external field being applied across the capsule for the movement from one chamber to the other. An opaque medial sheet blocks the visibility of the ink in the chambers under the medial sheet. Applying an external field across an hourglass shaped capsule causes the ink to be moved into the chamber above the medial sheet where it is visible. By applying an external field across selective hourglass shaped cavities, an image can be displayed.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1996Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: David K. Biegelsen, Warren B. Jackson, Guerino G. Sacripante, James Mikkelsen, Thomas W. Smith, Nicholas K. Sheridon
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Patent number: 5538757Abstract: A thermoplastic composite material may be formed by supplying the thermoplastic material to the opposite surfaces of the fabric material and by then passing the resultant material through the spaces between progressive pairs of rollers. The rollers in each progressive pair have a decreased spacing relative to the rollers in the previous pair so as to squeeze the thermoplastic material into the interstices between the fabric threads without compressing the fabric material. The resultant material may also be moved in a tortuous path, such as formed by a pair of rollers defining an S-configuration relative to the resultant material, to engage the opposite surfaces of the resultant material and squeeze air from the resultant material without compressing the fabric.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1994Date of Patent: July 23, 1996Assignee: Medical Materials CorporationInventors: Douglas R. Fitchmun, Niran Perera, Thomas W. Smith
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Patent number: 5516619Abstract: A process for the preparation of conductive submicron polymeric particles which comprises mixing at least one monomer with a polymerization initiator, a crosslinking component, and a chain transfer component; adding thereto an AB type block copolymer; effecting bulk polymerization until from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of the monomer has been polymerized; terminating polymerization by cooling the partially polymerized monomer; adding thereto from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of a conductive filler, or conductive fillers, followed by mixing thereof; dispersing the aforementioned mixture of conductive filler or fillers, and partially polymerized product in water containing a stabilizing component to obtain a suspension of particles with an average diameter of from about 0.05 to about 1 micron in water; polymerizing the resulting suspension by heating; and subsequently optionally washing and drying the product.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1995Date of Patent: May 14, 1996Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Michael F. Cunningham, Hadi K. Mahabadi, Thomas W. Smith, John A. Creatura
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Patent number: 5484681Abstract: A process for the preparation of conductive submicron polymeric particles which comprises mixing at least one monomer with a polymerization initiator, a crosslinking component, and a chain transfer component; adding thereto an AB type block copolymer; effecting bulk polymerization until from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of the monomer has been polymerized; terminating polymerization by cooling the partially polymerized monomer; adding thereto from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of a conductive filler, or conductive fillers, followed by mixing thereof; dispersing the aforementioned mixture of conductive filler or fillers, and partially polymerized product in water containing a stabilizing component to obtain a suspension of particles with an average diameter of from about 0.05 to about 1 micron in water; polymerizing the resulting suspension by heating; and subsequently optionally washing and drying the product.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1994Date of Patent: January 16, 1996Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Michael F. Cunningham, Hadi K. Mahabadi, Thomas W. Smith, John A. Creatura
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Patent number: 5461580Abstract: A computer-aided chemical illustration system is disclosed. Techniques provided include: 1) efficient drawing of bonds; 2) drawing different bond types during a single mode; 3) determining bisect angles for bonds; 4) labeling atoms on the fly; 5) automatic alignment of atom labels; 6) custom alignment of atom labels; 7) changing the type, style, or orientation of an object while it is being drawn; 8) detection of ring structures; and 9) shifting bonds around on a ring.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1994Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: John S. Facci, Samuel Kaplan, John L. Haack, Dale S. Renfer, Thomas W. Smith, Janaia M. Donaldson, William R. Mallgren, James S. Wilson