Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Carl F. Ruoff
  • Patent number: 5962207
    Abstract: The present invention is a motion picture film including a support having on one side thereof an antihalation undercoat and at least one silver halide emulsion layer. The motion picture film has on the opposite side thereof an antistatic layer and a protective overcoat. The protective overcoat includes a layer of a polyurethane binder having a tensile elongation to break of at least 50% and a Young's modulus measured at a 2% elongation of at least 50000 lb/in.sup.2, and a topcoat farthest from said support. The topcoat is an interpolymer having repeating units of A and B wherein A is a fluorine containing acrylate or methacrylate monomer and B is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing hydratable groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles C. Anderson, Brian A. Schell, Debasis Majumdar, Mario D. DeLaura
  • Patent number: 5958311
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a ceramic article. The method includes forming an intercalated or exfoliated solution of smectite clay and a polymer selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyethylene oxides, polystyrene sulfonates, polyacrylamides, polymers of styrene, alkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, olefins, acrylonitriles, polyurethanes and polyester ionomers. The solution is mixed with zirconia stabilized with at least one rare earth oxide element selected from Mg, Ca, Y, Sc and Ce to form a mixture. The mixture is molded into a green part. The green part is sintered to form the ceramic article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Syamal K. Ghosh, Dilip K. Chatterjee, Debasis Majumdar
  • Patent number: 5958123
    Abstract: An ink composition compriseswater;a mica-based pigment;a hydroxyalkyl cellulose binder; and,a water-soluble or water-dispersible surfactant coating aid.The composition is suitable for printing paper e.g. photographic paper base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: David I. De La Fuente
  • Patent number: 5958658
    Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, at least one light sensitive layer, and a surface protective layer containing a binder and polymer particles. The polymer particles are prepared by the process of mechanically forming droplets of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having hydrophobic groups, the hydrophobic groups having a logP.sub.(calc) greater than a logP.sub.(calc) of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer by at least 1 unit, and a water insoluble lubricant. The droplets are polymerized in the presence of a dispersing agent so that the polymerized droplets have a size of less than 500 nm. The present invention also is an imaging element which includes a support, at least one imaging layer, and at least one layer containing a binder and polymer particles. The polymeric particles are prepared by the process of mechanically forming droplets of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a logP.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dennis E. Smith, Yongcai Wang, Charles C. Anderson, John L. Muehlbauer
  • Patent number: 5955250
    Abstract: The present invention is a multilayer imaging element which includes a support, one or more image-forming layers superposed on the support, and an outermost transparent electrically-conductive, non-charging, overcoat layer superposed on the support. The over coat layer is colloidal, acicular electrically-conductive metal-containing particles, dispersed in a film-forming binder at a volume percentage of acicular conductive metal-containing particles of from 2 to 60. The overcoat layer further includes a first charge control agent which imparts positive charging properties and a second charge control agent which imparts negative charging properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Christian, Mark Lelental, Dennis J. Eichorst
  • Patent number: 5955190
    Abstract: The present invention is a photographic paper which includes a paper sheet with a polyolefin resin layer on each surface of the paper sheet. A print retaining antistatic layer having a dry coverage of from 10 mg/m.sup.2 to 10000 mg/m.sup.2 is superposed on one of the free surfaces of the polyolefin layers. The print retaining antistatic layer includes a smectite clay and a film forming polymeric binder having a glass transition temperature (Tg) less than 30.degree. which does not intercalate inside and/or exfoliate the smectite clay. In an alternate embodiment the photographic paper includes a silver halide emulsion layer on the other free surface of the resin coated paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Debasis Majumdar, Hans R. Grashof, Robert J. Kress
  • Patent number: 5952165
    Abstract: This invention relates to a motion picture film having a support and having, in order, on one side thereof an antihalation undercoat and at least one silver halide emulsion layer and having, in order, on the opposite side thereof an antistatic layer, a protective overcoat; characterized in that said protective overcoat includes a polyurethane binder, the polyurethane binder has a tensile elongation to break of at least 50% and a Young's modulus measured at a 2% elongation of at least 50000 lb/in.sup.2, and a topcoat farthest from the support which comprises gelatin-coated, latex particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles C. Anderson, Brian A. Schell
  • Patent number: 5952130
    Abstract: The present invention is an imaged photographic element which includes a support, at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support, and an overcoat layer overlying the light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer. The protective overcoat includes a first water insoluble polymer having a Tg less than 25.degree. C. and a second water insoluble polymer having a Tg greater than 25.degree. C. The first or second polymer is composed of a monomer at a weight percent of 20 to 100 having the following formula ##STR1## wherein: X is selected from the group consisting of --Cl, --F, and --CN, and Y is each independently selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, F, CN, CF.sub.3, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, n--C.sub.3 H.sub.7, iso--C.sub.3 H.sub.7, n--C.sub.4 H.sub.9, n--C.sub.5 H.sub.11, n--C.sub.6 H.sub.13, OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2 H.sub.5, phenyl C.sub.6 F.sub.5, C.sub.6 Cl.sub.5, CH.sub.2 Cl, CH.sub.2 F, C.sub.2 F.sub.5, n--C.sub.3 F.sub.7, iso--C.sub.3 F.sub.7, OCF.sub.3, OC.sub.2 F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hwei-Ling Yau, Tienteh Chen, Jeffrey F. Taylor, Elmer C. Flood, David E. Decker
  • Patent number: 5952164
    Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element including a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer superposed on said support; and at least one auxiliary layer. The auxiliary layer includes a gelatin-grafted-polyurethane which is formed by coating and subsequent drying of a coating composition comprising gelatin covalently bound to a polyurethane through a grafting agent, wherein a ratio of gelatin to polyurethane is from 1:10 to 2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles C. Anderson, Brian A. Schell, Mario D. DeLaura
  • Patent number: 5948605
    Abstract: The present invention provides UV absorbing particles which are a polymerization reaction product of ethylenically unsaturated monomers selected from esters and amides of acrylic on methacrylic acid, vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, and vinyl nitrites; an initiator, a surfactant and an ultraviolet absorber having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is each independently a hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, acyloxy, alkylthio, arylthio, amine, alkylamino, arylamino, hydroxyl, cyano, nitro, acylamino, sulfonyl, sulfamido, acyloxy and oxycarbonyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yongcai Wang, Dennis Edward Smith, James Lee Bello, Kurt Michael Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5948857
    Abstract: The present invention is a water-dispersible polyurethane composed of a polyurethane containing carboxylate groups covalently bonded to gelatin through a grafting agent. The polyurethane is formed by providing a polyurethane dispersion containing carboxylate groups wherein the polyurethane dispersion has an acid number of at least 5. The polyurethane dispersion is contacted with a grafting agent. The polyurethane dispersion with the grafting agent is contacted with gelatin to form a polyurethane covalently bonded to gelatin wherein a ratio of gelatin to polyurethane is from 1:10 to 2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles C. Anderson, Brian A. Schell, Gary R. Opitz
  • Patent number: 5948606
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a photographic material comprising, in addition to the conventional light-sensitive silver halide layers, a protective top layer.According to the invention, the protective layer comprises, in combination, a surface-active fluorinated polyether and a vinyl polymer.This protective top layer enables the appearance of marks during photographic processing to be prevented without modifying the sensitometric results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yannick Begel, Francois Jean-Marie Bredoux, Gerard Maurice Droin
  • Patent number: 5939243
    Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support and at least one image-forming layer superposed on the support. The imaging element includes at least one transparent electrically-conductive layer and a transparent magnetic recording layer overlying the transparent electrically-conductive layer. The electrically conductive layer is composed of both electrically-conductive granular metal-containing colloidal particles having an average particle diameter of less than or equal to 0.05 .mu.m and electrically-conductive acicular metal-containing particles having a cross-sectional diameter of less than or equal to 0.02 .mu.m and an aspect ratio greater than or equal to 5:1 dispersed in a first film-forming binder. The transparent magnetic recording layer is composed of magnetic particles dispersed in a second film-forming binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dennis J. Eichorst, Paul A. Christian
  • Patent number: 5935742
    Abstract: A photographic material comprising a cassette containing a processed photographic element, the photographic element comprising a support, at least one light sensitive silver halide layer and a protective overcoat layer on the light sensitive layer, the protective overcoat layer comprising a hydrophilic binder and permanent matte particles, the permanent matte particles comprising greater than 80 mole percent methyl methacrylate and having a mean particle size of from 1 to 1.8 .mu.m and a coating weight of from 70 to 250 mg/m.sup.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yongcai Wang, Dennis Edward Smith, Alfred Bruce Fant, Melvin Michael Kestner
  • Patent number: 5932405
    Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, at least silver halide light sensitive layer superposed on the support, and an outermost protective overcoat superposed on the support. The protective overcoat includes a water dispersible siloxane-containing polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Corporation
    Inventors: Charles C. Anderson, Brian A. Schell, Yongcai Wang, Mario D. DeLaura
  • Patent number: 5932404
    Abstract: The present invention is a silver halide photographic material including at least one layer which contains; a polymer comprising as constituent components thereof a repeating unit having a photographically useful group and at least one repeating unit having an imidazole group; and a compound having at least one functional group which reacts with an imidazole group and at least one other functional group capable of reacting with an imidazole group and a primary amine group, the amount of the compound being sufficient to insure adequate fixation of said polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Tienteh Chen, Hwei-ling Yau, Dorothy T. Java
  • Patent number: 5928848
    Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element including a support, having on one side thereof at least one silver halide emulsion layer, and having on the other side an antistatic layer, and a protective overcoat. The protective overcoat is farthest from the support; and is a continuous polyolefin coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Tamara K. Osburn, Charles H. Appell
  • Patent number: 5928847
    Abstract: This invention contemplates a multilayer, multicolor photographic element comprising a support, a plurality of dye-forming hydrophilic colloid containing silver halide emulsion layers which are spectrally sensitized to different regions of the visible spectrum including at least one blue-sensitive emulsion layer, a green-sensitive emulsion layer, and a red-sensitive emulsion layer. Each of the silver halide emulsion layers includes imaging silver having at least 25 weight percent ultrathin tabular grains having a thickness of less than 0.07 microns. One of the silver halide emulsion layers is a topmost silver halide emulsion layer having a water swell percentage which is greater than any other light-sensitive emulsion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gary W. Visconte, Alfred B. Fant, Yongcai Wang, Ronald G. Olsen
  • Patent number: 5919906
    Abstract: The present invention describes a gelatin having a high molecular weight fraction (>250,000 Daltons) of from 0 to 25 wt %, a beta fraction (150,000-250,000 Daltons) of from 0 to 20 wt % and an alpha fraction (50,000-150,000 Daltons) of from 15 to 55 wt %. The gelatin has a gel strength of from 200 to 400, an absorbance a 420 nm of from 0 to 0.068 and a concentration of protease of greater than 10 ppb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Anne G. Rowlands, Deborah J. Burrows
  • Patent number: 5919850
    Abstract: This invention provides an ultraviolet ray absorbing polymer particle which includes a first ultraviolet particle which includes a first ultraviolet ray absorber represented by formula I: ##STR1## and a second ultraviolet ray absorber represented by formula II: ##STR2##
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yongcai Wang, Dennis E. Smith, Kurt M. Schroeder