Patents Represented by Attorney Smith Moore LLP
  • Patent number: 7163969
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an aqueous superabsorbent polymer paste comprising from about 1 to about 5 wt % of superabsorbent particles and from about 95 to about 99 wt % of an aqueous water-soluble solution having from about 0.5 to about 5%, preferably from about 1 to about 3% solid level. The present invention is also directed to a coated substrate comprising a substrate material and an aqueous superabsorbent polymer paste comprising a blend of i) from about 1 to about 5 wt % of superabsorbent particles and ii) from about 95 to about 99 wt % of an aqueous water-soluble solution. The present invention is also directed to a method for reducing the loss of circulation fluids into flow passages of a subterranean formation during well drilling, completion or work over operations, by using the aqueous superabsorbent polymer paste of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Stockhausen, Inc.
    Inventors: Iqbal Ahmed, Angela M. Jones, Scott Tomlin, Scott J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7156007
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for crushing a hydrous polymer jelly, comprising two rolls (11,12) located axially parallel and rotating in opposite directions between which a nip (13) for the passage of the polymer gel (10) is formed. In order to achieve a more uniform and cheaper size reduction of polymer gels, the present invention proposes to form one roll as a cutting roll (11) which is provided with at least one axially extending cross cutting element (15) having a cutting edge (17) and with a radially extending longitudinal cutting element (14) provided with a cutting edge (18) which runs around it, and to form the other roll as a back-up roll (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Albin, Jürgen Schulte, Uwe Günther
  • Patent number: 7157141
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulverulent polymer post-crosslinked on the surface and absorbing water or aqueous liquids, synthesised from polymerised, optionally pre-crosslinked monomers containing partially neutralised carboxyl groups. The present invention also relates to a process for the post-treatment of the aforementioned polymers and the use of a solution of at least one salt of an at least trivalent cation for restoring the gel permeability of the aforementioned polymers that have been damaged by mechanical action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Waldemar Inger, Rudiger Hose, Heinz-Peter Bohlmann
  • Patent number: 7144980
    Abstract: A web of superabsorbent polymer and fiber made by an in situ neutralization, wet-laid process, wherein the degree of neutralization of the superabsorbent polymer is partial, preferably less than about 80 mol %. The web exhibits an excellent centrifuge retention capacity property, as compared to prior webs of superabsorbent polymer and cellulosic fiber made by in situ neutralization, wherein the degree of neutralization is total, such as 100 mol % or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Fang Sun, Bernfried A. Messner
  • Patent number: 7121830
    Abstract: A method for collecting data relating to human performance skills and/or attributes comprising the steps of creating a questionnaire relating to the human performance skills of a target individual and establishing a rating scale for responses to the questionnaire. The rating scale comprises a dual sided continuum. The middle point on the dual sided scale is associated with the proper amount of the performance skill. The markers on the first side of the dual sided scale are associated with exhibiting too much of the human performance skill and the markers on the other side of the dual sided scale are associated with increased intensity of the human performance skill. Preferably, pairs of questionnaire elements are generated that relate to opposing but complementary performance skills to exhibit the individual's versatility in terms of dichotomies. The questionnaire results are compiled and a report is generated that that displays the results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Kaplan Devries Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Kaplan, Robert B. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 7105733
    Abstract: An integrated system and software package for creating and performing a musical score including a user interface that enables a user to enter and display the musical score, a database that stores a data structure which supports graphical symbols for musical characters in the musical score and performance generation data that is derived from the graphical symbols, a musical font that includes a numbering system that corresponds to the musical characters, a compiler that generates the performance generation data from the database, a performance generator that reads the performance generation data from the compiler and synchronizes the performance of the musical score, and a synthesizer that responds to commands from the performance generator and creates data for acoustical playback of the musical score that is output to a sound generation device. The synthesizer generates the data for acoustical playback from a library of digital sound samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Virtuosoworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Marius Jarrett, Lori Jarrett, Ramasubramaniyam Sethuraman
  • Patent number: 7104218
    Abstract: For the determination of the occupancy of a milking stall by an animal, in particular a cow, in a rotary milking parlor with a plurality of milking stalls which are disposed on a rotatable milking platform, a process is proposed in which the identification of the animal only takes place after it has entered the milking stall in which it is supposed to be milked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: WestfaliaSurge GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Teckentrup, Manfred Pohlkamp
  • Patent number: 7101946
    Abstract: The invention relates to absorbents for water and aqueous liquids, which absorbents are based on water-swellable, yet water-insoluble polymers wherein zeolites high in silicon have been incorporated ionically and/or as a result of mechanical inclusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut G. Brehm, Jorg Harren, Richard Mertens
  • Patent number: 7090892
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing excess coating material from a honeycomb body of a catalytic converter. The coated honeycomb body is mounted on an eccentric tappet and is rotated around a first rotational axis with a first rotational frequency such that the distance from the center of gravity of the honeycomb body to the first rotational axis is at least 1.5 times the length of the honeycomb body. The honeycomb body is further rotated around a second rotational axis even out the coating material and provide a more uniform coating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Becker, Rolf Bruck
  • Patent number: 7090318
    Abstract: A slide assembly for use with a door of a furniture piece is disclosed. The slide assembly includes a pair of cambered slides and an alignment element. The pair of slides is for slidably mounting the door. The alignment element is for aligning the movement of the pair of slides. The camber is for compensating for the weight of the door to maintain the movement of the door substantially true relative to the furniture piece. Preferably, the pair of cambered slides is universally cambered. The universal camber is for permitting one design to be used without having to be concerned about the handedness of the cambered slide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: TCI Supply, Inc.
    Inventor: David Todd Brown
  • Patent number: 7033493
    Abstract: Water is separated from an emulsion of water and oil by passing the emulsion through a bed of superabsorbent polymer granules which break the emulsion and absorb water from the mixture of water and oil. An apparatus for separating water from an emulsion of water and oil has at least one separation cell containing a bed of super absorbent polymer granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Stockhausen, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. McGarvey, James A. Lilly, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7026373
    Abstract: A polyamphoteric superabsorbent copolymer made up of polymerizerable acid monomer and of polymerizable base monomer and optionally a supplemental monomer. In particular, the invention includes a radiation curable coating composition that comprises from about 20 weight % to about 80 weight % of polymerizerable acid monomer and from about 20 weight % to about 80 weight of polymerizable base monomer; and from 0 weight % to about 50 weight % of supplemental monomer. On exposure to radiation the coating composition forms a polyamphoteric superabsorbent copolymer. The radiation curable coating composition may be used with suitable substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Scott J. Smith, Seungkoo Kang
  • Patent number: 7017992
    Abstract: A chair control device for a tiltable chair wherein the chair control includes a a one-piece integral structure mainframe housing, including an integral extension for a seat locking cam means, for supporting adjustment mechanisms. The housing is affixed to the underside of a seat portion of a chair and, optionally, a tailpiece bracket to affix the mainframe to a back portion of the chair. Also included in the device is a tension control means to control the resistance of the tilt motion, the tension control includes an elongated bolt having a first end attached to the mainframe and a second end attached to an adjustment means. A compression spring is inserted on the shaft of the bolt between the adjustment means and the mainframe. The tension control means is adapted to control the tension of the compression spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Warvel Products, Inc.-N.C.
    Inventor: William Stumpf
  • Patent number: 7017934
    Abstract: A portable dolly for use in towing a tractor including at least one wheel for moving the dolly, a king pin configured for placement in a mating engagement with a fifth wheel on the tractor, and a plurality of chains for connecting the dolly to the tractor, wherein the dolly is configured to assist a wrecker with towing the tractor from the tractor's front end without removing the front drive axle and drive shaft on the tractor. A lift mechanism is provided for lifting the tractor off the ground into a position that is suitable for towing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Dennis E. Harris
  • Patent number: 6918751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for melt spinning and cooling a filament bundle. To this end, the device comprises a spinning device with an annular spinneret for extruding the filament bundle as well as a cooling unit arranged below the spinning device. The cooling unit comprises a holding device and a coolant dispersing head that is connected to said holding device. In an operating position, said coolant dispersing head is substantially centered relative to the spinneret with contact between the spinning device and the holding device. The coolant dispersing head can be guided into a standby position at a distance from the spinneret. According to the invention, a movable shielding means is arranged laterally of the coolant dispersing head and can be moved between an initial position laterally of the coolant dispersing head and a shielding position directly underneath the spinneret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Neumag GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Holger Brandt, Andreas Cohrt, Herbert Peters, Peter Blunck
  • Patent number: 6911499
    Abstract: The present invention relates to powdered, crosslinked polymer compositions, containing a) 55-99.9 wt.-% of at least one polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated, polymerizable monomer which contains acid groups neutralized to at least 25 mole-%, b) 0-40 wt.-% of polymerized, unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with a), c) 0.01-5.0 wt.-%, preferably 0.1-2.0 wt.-% of one or more crosslinking agents, d) 0-30 wt.-% of a water-soluble polymer, the weight amounts a) through d) being based on anhydrous polymer composition, and the sum of these components always being 100 wt.-%, which compositions can be obtained by continuous polymerization wherein at least one parameter biasing the polymerization is varied according to a recurring pattern. The present invention also relates to a process for their production and to their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Brehm, Hans-Georg Hartan
  • Patent number: 6906131
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulose material having an application of superabsorbent polymer adhered to the cellulose material. In particular, the cellulose material has an application of pre-superabsorbent polymer adhered to the material, wherein an aqueous solution of pre-superabsorbent polymer is applied to the cellulose material and converted to superabsorbent polymer upon subjected to heat for a sufficient time. The absorbent cellulose material has a fluid retention of greater then 2g/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Iqbal Ahmed, Angela Marie Jones, Scott J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6902384
    Abstract: An apparatus for melt spinning and cooling a group of filaments comprising a spinning device with an annular spinneret and a cooling device arranged below the spinning device. The cooling device comprises a holder that is connected to a coolant dispersing head. The coolant dispersing head is centered relative to the spinneret with contact between the spinning device and the holder in an operating position. The coolant dispersing head can be guided into a standby position at a distance from the spinneret. A guide tube encloses the coolant dispersing head in the manner of a jacket with a clearance and which is open at its end facing toward the spinning device. The guide tube and coolant dispersing head are displaceable relative to one another in axial direction to produce an air stream at the blowing end of the guide tube during transition from the standby position to the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Neumag GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Kropat, Andreas Cohrt
  • Patent number: 6890166
    Abstract: A spinning-drawing-texturing machine for producing crimped threads is described, comprising a spinning device, a drawing device, a texturing device, and a take-up device. A plurality of threads spun by the spinning device is assigned to the drawing device, the texturing device, and the take-up device. According to the present invention, the drawing device and the texturing device are arranged in a processing module and the take-up device in a winding module underneath the spinning device. The processing module and the winding module are erected side by side and form one long side of the machine. This ensures a configuration divided by functional groups, which facilitates operation and increases operational reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Neumag GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernd Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 6863978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulverulent polymer post-crosslinked on the surface and absorbing water or aqueous liquids, synthesised from polymerised, optionally pre-crosslinked monomers containing partially neutralised carboxyl groups. The present invention also relates to a process for the post-treatment of the aforementioned polymers and the use of a solution of at least one salt of an at least trivalent cation for restoring the gel permeability of the aforementioned polymers that have been damaged by mechanical action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Waldemar Inger, Rudiger Hose, Heinz-Peter Bohlmann