Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Martin F. Sloan
  • Patent number: 6165320
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of sizing paper comprising use of a sizing composition comprising: (a) at least one thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic rosins having an acid number less than 50, thermoplastic hydrocarbon resins, thermoplastic polyamides and thermoplastic amide waxes; (b) starch; and (c) surfactant. The sizing takes place substantially in the absence of alum or other aluminum based fixing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Bates, Gerard J. Broekhuisen, Edwin R. Hensema, Malcolm J. Welch
  • Patent number: 6162328
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for sizing paper by adding to the surface of the paper a sizing composition comprising cellulose reactive and cellulose non-reactive size. The sized paper performs better in ink jet printing than does paper that is the same except that the size composition contains only cellulose reactive size or only cellulose non-reactive size, when the printing is evaluated for at least one property selected from the group consisting of optical density, feathering, wicking, edge roughness and bleed. The sized paper also has higher toner adhesion, a higher coefficient of friction and a lower coefficient of friction bandwidth than does paper that is the same except that the size composition contains only cellulose reactive size. The paper is also capable of performing effectively in tests that measure its convertibility on state-of-the-art converting equipment and its performance on high speed end-use machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Marco Franco Cenisio, Edwin Rene Hensema, Andrew Mears, Daniel Felix Varnell
  • Patent number: 6143346
    Abstract: A process is provided for treating a solution, gel, or suspension of pectin starting material having a degree of esterification greater than about 60% with a cation-containing preparation to obtain at least a first fraction having a higher degree of calcium sensitivity and a second fraction having a lower degree of calcium sensitivity than said pectin starting material. The resultant composition has a degree of esterification greater than about 60% and a ratio of calcium sensitive pectin to the sum of calcium sensitive pectin and non-calcium sensitive pectin greater than about 0.60. Compositions using citrus pectin have a degree of esterification less than about 80% and a ratio on non-calcium sensitive pectin to the sum of calcium sensitive pectin and non-calcium sensitive pectin greater than about 0.60. These compositions are used, for example, in admixture with foodstuffs, in personal hygienic devices, and in cosmetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: Poul-Egede Glahn
  • Patent number: 6133405
    Abstract: Water soluble polyalkanolamides and a process to prepare same by reacting polycarboxylic acid or its anhydride, ester or halide derivative with at least one alkanolamine and optionally with a polyamine and removing the condensation byproduct water, alcohol or hydrogen halide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: Anthony J. Allen
  • Patent number: 6113891
    Abstract: There are disclosed stable fluidized polymer suspensions containing cationic polysaccharide, stabilizing agent and emollient. The preferred cationic polysaccharides are cationic guar and cationic hydroxypropyl guar, and preferred emollients are hydrocarbons, silicone oils and esters. Processes for preparing personal care compositions utilizing the fluidized polymer suspensions are also disclosed. Using the fluidized polymer suspensions in the processes provides the advantages of more rapid dissolution and avoidance of lumps and gels when compared to using dry, powdered cationic polysaccharides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles Lee Burdick, Jacobus Johannes deBruin, Hans Hofman, Mohand Melbouci
  • Patent number: 6103861
    Abstract: An ionic thermosettable resin useful for imparting wet and dry strength to paper is made by: (a) providing a copolymer comprising monomer units derived by copolymerization of acrylamide or alkyl-substituted acrylamide and diallylamine or an acid salt thereof; and (b) reacting the copolymer with epihalohydrin or epihalohydrin equivalent and dialdehyde. Paper products made using the resin are more easily repulped than paper products made with conventional wet strength resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Staib, Joseph Raymond Fanning, William Walter Maslanka
  • Patent number: 6093769
    Abstract: There are disclosed stable fluidized polymer suspensions containing cationic polysaccharide, stabilizing agent and water-soluble polyol. The preferred cationic polysaccharides are cationic guar and cationic hydroxypropyl guar. Processes for preparing personal care compositions utilizing the fluidized polymer suspensions are also disclosed. Using the fluidized polymer suspensions in the processes provides advantages of more rapid dissolution and avoidance of lumps and gels when compared to using dry, powdered cationic polysaccharides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles Lee Burdick, Mohand Melbouci, Hans Hofman, Jacobus Johannes deBruin
  • Patent number: 6074468
    Abstract: This invention relates to a sizing composition comprising (a) thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic rosins having an acid number less than 50, thermoplastic hydrocarbon resins, thermoplastic polyamides and thermoplastic amide waxes; (b) starch selected from the group consisting of natural, anionic, oxidized, amphoteric and modified starch; and (c) surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Bates, Gerard J. Broekhuisen, Edwin R. Hensema, Malcolm J. Welch
  • Patent number: 6051107
    Abstract: A process for preparing sized paper which incorporates in the paper a size composition containing polymer latex, wherein the polymer contained in the polymer latex is anionic polymer having properties selected from the group consisting of T.sub.G about -15.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. and acid number about 30 to about 100, and wherein the polymer latex has a zeta potential of from about -25 to about -70 millivolts over the pH range of about 5 to about 9. A preferred process has the steps: a) providing an aqueous pulp suspension; b) sheeting and drying the aqueous pulp suspension to obtain paper; c) treating the paper by applying to at least one surface of it the size composition containing polymer latex and starch; and d) drying the paper to obtain sized paper. Preferred anionic polymers are copolymers of monomers comprising styrene or substituted styrene, alkyl acrylate or methacrylate and ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: Daniel Felix Varnell
  • Patent number: 6048392
    Abstract: A sizing agent for paper that is a 2-oxetanone ketene multimer which is not solid at 35.degree. C., particularly a multimer mixture in which at least 25 weight percent of the hydrocarbon substituents contain irregularities such as branched alkyl groups or linear or branched alkenyl groups. Paper surface sized with the 2-oxetanone ketene multimer sizing agent and the method of surface sizing paper are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Clement L. Brungardt, Richard J. Riehle, Jian Jian Zhang
  • Patent number: 5994449
    Abstract: Disclosed are resin compositions that are the reaction product of epihalohydrin with a mixture of polyaminoamide and vinyl amine polymer containing a minimum of about 1 mole % vinyl amine monomer units, wherein said polyaminoamide comprises the reaction product of dicarboxylic acid, or a derivative thereof, with polyamine selected from the group consisting of methyl bis(3-aminopropyl)amine and polyalkylenepolyamine containing from two to four alkylene groups having two to four carbons, two primary amine groups, and one to three secondary amine groups. Also disclosed are a process for creping fibrous webs utilizing the resin compositions, and creped paper prepared by the process. Also disclosed is wet and dry strength paper containing the resin compositions and processes for creping fibrous webs utilizing the resin compositions as creping adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: William Walter Maslanka
  • Patent number: 5989329
    Abstract: Water-borne paints containing reduced molecular weight polysaccharide derivatives that are resistant to enzyme hydrolysis. The water-borne paints are biostable, retaining at least about 80% of their initial viscosity 24 hours after they are inoculated with polysaccharide hydrolysis enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: Arjun Chandra Sau
  • Patent number: 5972094
    Abstract: This invention relates to a sizing composition comprising a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic rosins having an acid number less than 50, thermoplastic hydrocarbon resins, thermoplastic polyamides and thermoplastic amide waxes, its use in sizing paper and paper sized with the sizing agent. The invention also relates to a method of sizing paper comprising use of a composition comprising a thermoplastic rosin, wherein the sizing takes place substantially in the absence of alum, and paper so sized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Bates, Gerard J. Broekhuisen, Edwin R. Hensema, Malcolm J. Welch
  • Patent number: 5972399
    Abstract: A ready to eat, nonfried food made up of a cooked and hydrated carbohydrate core, and a cation crosslinked polysaccharide coating which substantially reduces the core's glycemic response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: John Arthur Lapre, William Thomas McNabola, Jan Veenstra, Hielke Tjeerd De Vries
  • Patent number: 5932193
    Abstract: Disclosed are toothpaste compositions and a process for preparing such compositions comprising dental abrasive, humectant, fluidized polymer suspension and a suitable vehicle for the humectant, wherein the fluidized polymer suspension comprises: polyethylene glycol, carboxymethyl cellulose and hydrated thickening silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Lopez, Mohand Melbouci, Gerhard Dewald
  • Patent number: 5879440
    Abstract: Water-borne paints containing reduced molecular weight polysaccharide derivatives that are resistant to enzyme hydrolysis. The water-borne paints are biostable, retaining at least about 80% of their initial viscosity 24 hours after they are inoculated with polysaccharide hydrolysis enzyme. A process for making the biostable water-borne paints has the steps: a) treating precursor polysaccharide derivative with polysaccharide hydrolysis enzyme in aqueous medium for a time sufficient to obtain reduced molecular weight polysaccharide derivative; and b) mixing the reduced molecular weight polysaccharide derivative with an effective amount of at least one other water-borne paint ingredient to obtain a water-borne paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: Arjun Chandra Sau
  • Patent number: 5869029
    Abstract: This invention provides compositions comprising particulate water-soluble or water-swellable polymer at least partially agglomerated by treatment with at least one polyol, wherein the polyol is present at a level greater than about 10 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition. The particulate water-soluble or water-swellable polymer which has been at least partially agglomerated by treatment with polyol hydrates in water-containing solvents substantially faster than untreated water-soluble or water-swellable polymer, without formation of polymer lumps. The invention further provides an improved process for preparing a toothpaste composition comprising at least one dry, water-soluble or water-swellable polymer, the improvement comprising substituting for the dry, water-soluble or water-swellable polymer, particulate water-soluble or water-swellable polymer which has been at least partially agglomerated by treatment with polyol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Arne Graff-Andersen, Jashawant J. Modi
  • Patent number: 5833806
    Abstract: A method for creping fibrous webs comprises: (1) applying to a drying surface for the fibrous web a polyamine/epihalohydrin resin creping adhesive; (2) applying a creping release agent that is a plasticizer for the polyamine/epihalohydrin resin and has a swelling ratio of at least 0.10 and a solubility parameter of greater than 20 MPa.sup.1/2 ; (3) pressing the fibrous web against the drying surface to adhere the web to the drying surface, and (4) dislodging the web from the drying surface with a creping device to crepe the fibrous web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Anthony John Allen, George Lock
  • Patent number: 5820608
    Abstract: The present invention provides medical devices comprised of ionically crosslinked polymer, especially, stents, catheter or cannula components, plugs, and constrictors. The medical devices of the present invention are prepared by treatment of ionically crosslinkable polymer compositions with crosslinking ion compositions to provide ionically crosslinked materials.An important aspect of the present invention is that these medical devices can be disintegrated in-vivo at a desired time through the exposure of the medical device to a chemical trigger which generally is described as an agent that acts to displace the crosslinking ion in the ionically crosslinked material through binding or simple replacement with a non-crosslinking ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Andrew Luzio, Samuel Anthony Thompson
  • Patent number: 5820918
    Abstract: A process for impregnating a medical device made from a water absorbable polymer material, e.g., a hydrogel, with a medical compound having low solubility in aqueous solutions, e.g., an antiseptic or radiopaque compound, is disclosed. The device is first infiltrated with an aqueous solution containing a first water soluble, ionizable compound, and subsequently infiltrated with an aqueous solution containing a second water soluble, ionizable compound. The ionizable compounds are selected such that they react after mutual contact to form the medical compound in-situ within the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: John M. Ronan, Samuel A. Thompson