Patents Examined by Jeffrey Lenihan
  • Patent number: 9474941
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball with improved durability and/or resilience by improving the adhesion between a constituent member comprising an ionomer resin and a constituent member comprising a polyurethane. The present invention provides a golf ball material composed of a multi-block copolymer having a block A that has an acid functional group neutralized with a metal ion and a block B that has lower polarity than the block A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tarao, Kuniyasu Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9458311
    Abstract: Polymer compositions that include an ethylene-based polymer and a broad molecular weight distribution propylene-based polymer having a melt strength of 20.0 cN to 200.0 cN; and optionally, a propylene-based elastomer are described. The invention also includes articles, such as films, produced from such compositions and methods of making such compositions and methods of improving melt strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Mallarie D. McCune, Jianya Cheng, Steven A. Best
  • Patent number: 9457321
    Abstract: A polymer compound (I) with bacteria-adhesion inhibition properties against bacteria such as P. aeruginosa Xen 5, E. coli Xen 14, S. typhimurium Xen 26, S. aureus Xen 36 and K. pneumoniae Xen 39 is described. The group R is provided by a substituted furanone linked by an alkyl chain or, more preferably a hydrophilic moiety such as oligo(ethylene oxide) ((CH2—CH2—O)i) to the polymer backbone. The group R may be the same or different along the polymer backbone. The invention also provides nanofibers and coatings which include a polymer compound as defined above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: STELLENBOSCH UNIVERISTY
    Inventors: Lubertus Klumperman, Osama Esmail Bshena, Thomas Eugene Cloete, Nonjabulo Prudence Gule
  • Patent number: 9458362
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel block copolymer comprising at least one polymeric monoalkenyl arene block and at least one polymeric myrcene block having a low and stable viscosity and having good adhesive properties when used in an adhesive composition or as a damping material. An adhesive composition is also described, preferably containing an SMS triblock optionally mixed with an SM diblock. The adhesive composition comprises: 1) a block copolymer having at least one polymeric monoalkenyl arene block and at least one polymeric myrcene block; 2) a tackifier; 3) optional plasticizer; and 4) optionally a stabilizer. Compared with adhesive compositions comprising SIS block copolymers, those comprising SMS block copolymers have lower and more stable viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Martine Dupont, Marianne Stol
  • Patent number: 9453122
    Abstract: A rubber composition, preparation method and vulcanized rubber thereof are provided. The rubber composition comprises uncrosslinked rubber and rubber particles having crosslinked structure dispersed therein, wherein the rubber particles having crosslinked structure are synthetic rubber particles and/or natural rubber particles with an average particle size of 20 to 500 nm and a gel content of 60% by weight or higher, and the uncrosslinked rubber is styrene-butadiene rubber, and wherein the weight ratio of the rubber particles having crosslinked structure to the uncrosslinked rubber is 1:99-20:80.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, BEIJING RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRY, CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jinliang Qiao, Yuexin Cong, Xiaohong Zhang, Ying Li, Jianming Gao, Qianmin Zhang, Zhihai Song, Yanling Sun, Meifang Guo, Peijun Song, Chuanlun Cai, Guoxun Zhao, Hongwei Shi, Guicun Qi, Jinmei Lai, Hongbin Zhang, Ya Wang, Binghai Li, Xiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9453943
    Abstract: The invention provides a class of block copolymers having a plurality of chemically different blocks, at least a portion of which incorporating polymer side chain groups having a helical secondary structure. The invention also provides structures generated by self-assembly of polymer blends including at least one block copolymer component, such as a brush block polymer or wedge-type block polymer. The invention provides, for example, periodic nanostructures and microstructures generated by self-assembly of block copolymers and polymer blends comprising a mixture of at least one block copolymer component, such as a brush block copolymer, and at least a second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Garret M Miyake, Raymond Weitekamp, Robert H Grubbs, Victoria Piunova
  • Patent number: 9447210
    Abstract: Provided are an olefin composition, filler and an optoelectronic device. One illustrative olefin composition may be effectively used as a filling material for various optoelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD
    Inventors: Beom Doo Seo, Hoon Chae, Choong Hoon Lee, Jong Joo Ha, Sung Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 9447220
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a graft block copolymer comprising a first block polymer; the first block polymer comprising a backbone polymer and a first graft polymer; where the first graft polymer comprises a surface energy reducing moiety; and a second block polymer; the second block polymer being covalently bonded to the first block; wherein the second block comprises the backbone polymer and a second graft polymer; where the second graft polymer comprises a functional group that is operative to crosslink the graft block copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: ROHM AND HAAS ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LLC, THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Sangho Cho, Guorong Sun, Karen L. Wooley, James W. Thackeray, Peter Trefonas, III
  • Patent number: 9447275
    Abstract: A molded article for an automobile is formed using a thermoplastic resin composition including (A) about 1 to about 20 wt % of a first rubber-modified acrylic-based graft copolymer having an average particle diameter of greater than or equal to about 100 nm and less than about 200 nm, (B) about 1 to about 20 wt % of a second rubber-modified acrylic-based graft copolymer having an average particle diameter of greater than or equal to about 200 nm and less than or equal to about 400 nm, (C) about 5 to about 40 wt % of a first vinyl-based copolymer of an alkyl(meth)acrylate monomer, an aromatic vinyl monomer, and an unsaturated nitrile monomer wherein the alkyl(meth)acrylate monomer is included in an amount of greater than or equal to about 50 wt %, and (D) about 50 to about 85 wt % of a polycarbonate resin, wherein the molded article is a radiator grill or an outside mirror housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Chol Kim, Kee-Hae Kwon, Jung-Woo Park, Chang-Min Hong
  • Patent number: 9441123
    Abstract: The present invention provides a durable, external surfactant free, cationic, water based jet ink polymer which when formulated into an ink jet ink results in a printing that has an excellent adhesion to metal or plastic substrates. Such a jet ink polymer is suitable performance replacement of solvent soluble polymers currently in commercial use. The hybridized copolymer comprises a hydrophobic functional polymeric backbone comprised of a polysiloxane polymer, a polyolefin polymer, or a functional polyvinyl polymer. The hybridized copolymer also comprises a plurality of copolymeric side chains attached to the backbone, comprising a polymerizable amine-containing unsaturated monomer, and a polymerizable unsaturated monomer. The use of the inks of the present invention enhances performance criteria such as print-head open time, ink stability, and resistance to typical water based cleaners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: PENN COLOR, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Spiegel, Charles B. Rybny
  • Patent number: 9423528
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a contact lens including the steps of: (i) adding reactive components to a mold, wherein the reactive components comprise (a) at least one hydroxy-containing silicone component having a weight average molecular weight from about 200 to about 15,000 g/mole and (b) at least one mono-ether terminated, mono-methacrylate terminated polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight from about 200 to about 10,000 g/mole; (ii) curing the reactive components within the mold to form the contact lens; and (iii) removing the contact lens from said mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Azaam Alli, Shivkumar Mahadevan
  • Patent number: 9422387
    Abstract: A composition includes a responsive block copolymer, the responsive block copolymer including at least one block A that is a triggerable copolymer, the triggerable copolymer including at least one lower critical solution temperature monomer and at least one charged monomer, wherein the triggerable copolymer block A is a dual trigger block configured to trigger on temperature and ionic strength, and wherein the responsive block copolymer micellizes or gels at a temperature between 28° C. and 37° C. and a salt concentration of about 0.9 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: William Clayton Bunyard, Timothy E Long, Adam E. Smith, Shijing Cheng, Sean T. Hemp
  • Patent number: 9416238
    Abstract: Methods for preparing an impact copolymer by selecting a continuous phase polymer having a first melt flow rate and selecting a rubber phase polymeric material such that the final melt flow rate of the impact copolymer is within 2 g/10 min of the first melt flow rate. Impact copolymers made from such methods and films and molded articles produced from such impact copolymers are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Leland
  • Patent number: 9402394
    Abstract: Anion-paired metallocene-containing compounds are generally provided, along with methods of making the same. In one embodiment, the anion-paired metallocene-containing compound includes a cationic metallocene moiety covalently connected to an organic functional group, and an anion paired to the cationic metallocene moiety. Generally, the cationic metallocene moiety comprises two cyclopentadienyl anions bound to a metal center in the oxidation state I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Chuanbing Tang, Jiuyang Zhang, Yung-Pin Chen, Alan W. Decho
  • Patent number: 9399710
    Abstract: A thermoplastic composition comprising the melt blending product of one or more thermoplastic polymers; and from 2 to 20 PHR, of one or more gloss reducing additives wherein each gloss reducing additive comprises a (meth)acrylate copolymer having a glass transition temperature of greater than or equal to 40° C. and 0.001 to 0.04 PHM derived from one or more crosslinking monomers and/or graft-linking agents having two or more ethylenically unsaturated radicals capable of free-radical polymerization, wherein a test specimen produced from the thermoplastic composition has roughness according to DIN 4768 of Ra greater than or equal to 0.6 microns, Rz greater than or equal to 6 microns, Rmax greater than or equal to 7 microns, and a gloss less than 65, 75 degree angle, is provided. Methods for producing the thermoplastic compositions, methods for producing articles from the thermoplastic compositions and such articles are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Paul R. Van Rheenen, Veera Nelliappan, Seth T. Stewart
  • Patent number: 9394407
    Abstract: Disclosed are block copolymers of the formula A-B-A (I) or A-B (II), comprising blocks A and B, wherein block A is a hydrophilic polymeric segment comprising polyglycerol and block B is an aromatic hydrophobic polymeric segment. The block copolymers find use as wetting agents in the preparation of porous membranes from aromatic hydrophobic polymers such as polyethersulfone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Hassan Ait-Haddou, Frank Onyemauwa
  • Patent number: 9388258
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ionomers comprising a reaction product of the reaction between a halogenated isoolefin copolymer and at least one phosphorus based nucleophile comprising at least one pendant vinyl group. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing and curing these ionomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: LANXESS INTERNATIONAL SA
    Inventors: Gregory Davidson, Dana Adkinson, Sean Malmberg, Lorenzo Ferrari, Conrad Siegers, Sarah Chadder
  • Patent number: 9388268
    Abstract: Provided are novel polymer brushes that may be used in underlying buffer or imaging layers for block copolymer lithography. The novel polymer brushes include X-A-b-B and X-A-b-C block copolymer brushes, with X an anchoring group, the A block a lithographically sensitive polymer, and the C block a random copolymer. According to various embodiments, polymer block brushes for neutral and preferential layers are provided; the neutral layers non-preferential to the overlying block copolymer and the preferential layers preferential to a block of the overlying block copolymer. Also provided are novel methods of patterning polymer block brush layers as well as polymer block brush buffer and imaging layers that are directly patternable by e-beam, deep UV, extreme UV, X-ray or other lithographic methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Padma Gopalan, Eungnak Han
  • Patent number: 9382387
    Abstract: The invention provides a class of copolymers having useful properties, including brush block copolymers, wedge-type block copolymers and hybrid wedge and polymer block copolymers. In an embodiment, for example, block copolymers of the invention incorporate chemically different blocks comprising polymer size chain groups and/or wedge groups that significantly inhibit chain entanglement, thereby enhancing molecular self-assembly processes for generating a range of supramolecular structures, such as periodic nanostructures and microstructures. The present invention also provides useful methods of making and using copolymers, including block copolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yan Xia, Benjamin R Sveinbjornsson, Robert H Grubbs, Raymond Weitekamp, Garret M Miyake, Harry A Atwater, Victoria Piunova, Christopher Scot Daeffler, Sung Woo Hong, Weiyin Gu, Thomas P. Russell
  • Patent number: 9376508
    Abstract: Terminally functionalized polymers that are living or pseudo-living polymers reacted with certain allyl glycidyl ethers, or certain allylhalosilanes or combinations thereof, and a process for preparing the terminally functionalized polymers. Rubber-modified polymeric compositions comprising the terminally functionalized polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Zengquan Qin, Jason T. Poulton, Mark N. DeDecker, James E. Hall