Patents Examined by John M. Cooney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6822012
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to water resistant peelable protective and decorative clear or pigmented coating compositions and, more specifically, to aqueous and solvent based, polymeric coating compositions which form a protective and/or decorative coating and is removably adheres to a variety of substrates, including automotive paints, metals, glass, vinyl, plastics, concrete, natural and synthetic elastomers, and ceramics. The coatings can be either a flat film on the substrate, or a three-dimensional expandable foamy coating, and can be readily peeled off from the substrate as a whole piece. The coatings may be formulated for temporary or long-term protection depending upon the application. The peelable coatings can be applied as a paint, paste, film, or expandable foam cord whereby the expansion of the foam can be controlled by the formulation and applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Ashland Inc
    Inventors: Richard J. Baumgart, Michael A. Dituro, Frances E. Lockwood, Zhiqiang Zhang, Daniel J. Dotson
  • Patent number: 6818675
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polyurethane foam is provided which comprises reacting a polyisocyanate and an active hydrogen-containing component, including water and an organic polyol, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a delayed action amine catalyst system, and optionally an organotin catalyst. The delayed action catalyst is composed of the reaction product of (a) one or more carboxylic acids having hydroxy and/or halo functionality; (b) one or more tertiary amine ureas; and, optionally, (c) a reactant selected from the group consisting of specific reactive tertiary amine(s), specific tertiary amine carbamate(s) and mixture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hassan El Ghobary, Louis Muller
  • Patent number: 6818674
    Abstract: There are disclosed an elastic member which comprises (A) polyurethane foam obtained by agitationally mixing a foaming agent, a foam stabiizer and a urethane prepolymer synthesized from a polyol and a polyisocyanate in the presence of a modified silicone, or (B) polyurethane foam obtained by agitationally mixing a polyol, a polyisocyanate, a modified silicone oil bearing a functional group reactive with a polyisocyanate, a foaming agent and a foam stabiizer comprising a polyether modified silicone containing 50 to 100% by weight of a polyoxyethylene unit in the polyether moiety; image formation equipment equipped with the above elastic member; and a toner supply roller which is composed of a foamed elastic member mounted on a developing apparatus and which has a compression spring constant in the range of 0.25 to 5.0 N/mm and a surface friction resistance in the range of 0.4 to 1.2 N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Sakata, Hirotaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6806298
    Abstract: A sprayable composition and a method of protecting material with the composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a bulking/setting material, a water soluble polymer and water to provide a cover layer which, after spraying, is tough, flexible and water-repellent. Other materials such as clay, fibrous material, a foam producing agent and a hardening retarder can be included in the composition. The composition is effective as a cover layer over material such as soil, refuse at a dump site, stockpiled material, a temporary cover for remediation sites, or tire piles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: New Waste Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nachtman, John H. Hull, Patrick O'Shea
  • Patent number: 6803390
    Abstract: Polyurethane foams are made using a prepolymer that is the reaction product of an organic polyisocyanate, a hydroxy-functional acrylate or methacrylate, and a polyol. This prepolymer is reacted at specified volume ratios and isocyanate indices with a polyol component that includes at least one polyol. The foam is made in the presence of a blowing agent and catalyst. Preferred blowing agents are water and chemical blowing agents that generate carbon dioxide in the reaction. Preferred catalysts have primary or secondary amine groups that allow them to react into the resulting polymer structure, thus decreasing the level of volatile components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Huzeir Lekovic, Ali J. El-Khatib, Frank V. Billotto
  • Patent number: 6802997
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a rigid polyurethane foam material, a method of manufacturing a refrigerator using the material, and a refrigerator manufactured by the same method. The method includes recovering highly purified rigid polyurethane foam from a scrapped refrigerator, and decomposing the rigid polyurethane foam for recycling. The method includes steps of: shredding a scrapped refrigerator containing rigid polyurethane foam in order to separate rigid polyurethane foam lumps; grinding the rigid polyurethane foam lumps into a rigid polyurethane foam powder; liquefying the rigid polyurethane foam powder by either aminolysis reaction or glycolysis reaction; reacting thus obtained liquefied rigid polyurethane foam powder and supercritical/sub-critical water in order to decompose the rigid polyurethane foam powder into a crude material; and fractionating the crude material to obtain a raw material of rigid polyurethane foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company
    Inventors: Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
  • Patent number: 6800668
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for preparing a syntactic foam composition suitable for use as a carrier for chemicals or other compounds, including pharmaceuticals. The invention further relates to compositions prepared in accordance with the methods of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Intellipharmaceutics Corp.
    Inventors: Isa Odidi, Amina Odidi
  • Patent number: 6797736
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a method of forming high resilience slabstock polyurethane foam having random cell structures to produce latex-like feel and characteristics. The method includes the first step of providing an isocyanate-reactive component and an isocyanate component to react with the isocyanate-reactive component. A first nucleation gas is provided under low pressure and is added into at least one of the isocyanate-reactive component and the isocyanate component to produce a first cell structure in the polyurethane foam. A second nucleation gas is provided under low pressure, being different than the first nucleation gas, and is added into at least one of the isocyanate-reactive component and the isocyanate component to produce a second cell structure in the polyurethane foam that is different than the first cell structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore M. Smiecinski, Wassana Apichatachutapan, Todd J. Green, Thomas R. Benevenuti
  • Patent number: 6797738
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for preparing porous polymer materials by a combination of gas foaming and particulate leaching steps. The invention is also directed to porous polymer material prepared by the process, particularly having a characteristic interconnected pore structure, and to methods for using such porous polymer material, particularly for tissue engineering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Leatrese Harris, David J. Mooney, Lonnie Shea
  • Patent number: 6794420
    Abstract: Polyurethane article black colorants which comprise a novel blue polymeric anthraquinone colorant, rather than the previous standard polymeric triphenylmethane blue-type colorants are provided. Such a novel blend of colorants to produce black colorations within the target polyurethane foams exhibits very low color degradation within polyurthane foams, primarily due to the stability and resiliency of the novel anthraquinone-based polymeric colorant in the presence of high isocyanate levels, as well as large amounts of reactive tertiary amines (from catalyst residue, for example). A black colorant comprising such a novel blue polymeric colorant, as well as polyurethane foams comprising such a novel black coloring agent and methods of producing such foams are all contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Jusong Xia, Sandy G. Belue
  • Patent number: 6787575
    Abstract: The invention relates to the technological sector of mineral fillers used in the sector which manufactures polyurethane foams and in particular fillers of the carbonate, hydroxide, silicate, sulphate type and similar mineral fillers. The invention relates in particular to a method of treating mineral fillers of a specific grain size with the aid of treatment agents of the organic phosphate type, incorporating a de-agglomeration step, and optionally a selection step, with a view to improving the techniques used to manufacture polyurethane foams either by foaming without an auxiliary blowing agent or with a blowing agent such as CO2, and composite polyurethane, whilst reducing the time needed to mix this treated filler treated with the polyol and other reagents. Numerous applications for block foams or moulded foams, for mattresses and similar, the automotive industry, various industrial components, etc . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Omya SA
    Inventors: Jean Pierre Fichou, Maurice Husson, Georges Ravet, Pierre Blanchard
  • Patent number: 6787580
    Abstract: Prepare a multimodal thermoplastic polymer foam having a distribution of large and small cells in a substantial absence of water by using a blowing agent stabilizer. Multimodal foams of the present invention have blowing agent stabilizer predominantly located proximate to large cells. The resulting multimodal foams have particular utility as thermal insulating materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Yohannes Chonde, Daniel Imeokparia, John B. Horstman, Robert A. Kirchhoff, Kyung W. Suh
  • Patent number: 6784274
    Abstract: Methods for reducing the electrode impedance of implantable biosensors by coating the surface of the biosensor with a uniform hydrogel which allows unimpeded water movement around the sensor are provided. The surface coatings are compositions which are biocompatible and are capable of water uptake of at least 120% of their weight, more preferably at least 200% of their weight. Upon the uptake of water, the hydrogels used in the present invention will also swell and provide a layer of water around the electrodes to which the hydrogels are attached. The hydrogels can be prepared from (a) a diisocyanate, (b) a hydrophilic polymer which is a hydrophilic diol, a hydrophilic diamine, or a combination thereof, and optionally, (c) a chain extender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Minimed Inc.
    Inventors: William Peter Van Antwerp, Christian C. Decker, John J. Mastrototoro
  • Patent number: 6784150
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane and water, said compositions are environmentally desirable for use as blowing agents for polymer foam, refrigerants, aerosol propellants, metered dose inhalers, heat transfer media, and gaseous dielectrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mary C. Bogdan, Hang T. Pham, David J. Williams, Leslie Bement, Ronald Riegel, Rajiv R. Singh, Kane D. Cook, Gary M. Knopeck
  • Patent number: 6784217
    Abstract: A prepolymer process for preparing a high resilience flexible polyurethane foam by reacting a polyisocyanate composition comprising at least 80% by weight of 4,4′-MDI and having an NCO value below 20% with a polyol composition comprising b1) an EO-rich polyol; b2) a polyol with an EO content between 20-50% and a primary hydroxy content of at least 50%; and b3) a polyol with an EO content between 10-20% and a primary hydroxy content of at least 50%; according to the following proportions: b1: 40-90 wt %, b2: 5-60 wt %, b3: 0-20 wt %. The invention also relates to reaction systems comprising the above components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Huntsman International LLC
    Inventors: Alain Parfondry, Jianming Yu
  • Patent number: 6784220
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polyurethane foam, comprising reacting a polyol having a number-average molecular weight of not less than 1000 and less than 2500 with a polyisocyante compound in the presence of a catalyst and a blowing agent in a mold, to give a molded article having a density of 0.4 to 0.8 g/cm3, and heating the resulting molded article to a temperature of 60° to 100° C. The polyurethane foam is used as a cushioning material such as shoe soles of sports shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Sawai, Hiroshi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 6777456
    Abstract: A method for producing a rigid polyurethane foam, which comprises reacting a polyol with a polyisocyanate in the presence of an amine catalyst and a blowing agent, wherein as the amine catalyst, at least one amine compound having at least one type of substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a primary amino group and a secondary amino group in its molecule, or N-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-N′-methylpiperazine, is used, and as the blowing agent, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa) and/or 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc) is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kiso, Katsumi Tokumoto, Yutaka Tamano
  • Patent number: 6777457
    Abstract: An isocyanate-based polymer foam comprising an isocyanate-based polymer foam matrix having disposed therein a particulate material having an enthalpy of endothermic phase transition of at least about 50 J/g. A process for producing the foam is also described. During the process, the particulate material acts as a heat sink and will undergo an endothermic phase change by absorbing a significant portion of the heat of reaction liberated during the process. This improves the safety of the process by lowering the maximum exotherm experienced by the foam and/or improves product properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Woodbridge Foam Corporation
    Inventors: Inna Dolgopolsky, John A. Duley
  • Patent number: 6776925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of polyether polyols by polyaddition of alkylene oxides onto starter compounds containing active hydrogen atoms conducted in the presence of a double-metal cyanide catalyst wherein a reaction mixture is guided at least once through a zone which has an energy density of at least 105 J/m3 and wherein the residence time of the reaction mixture in this zone is at least 10−6 seconds per pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignees: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft, Bayer Polymers LLC
    Inventors: Jörg Hofmann, Stephan Ehlers, Bernd Klinksiek, Lars Obendorf, Christian Steinlein, Bert Klesczewski, Jose F. Pazos
  • Patent number: 6777382
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising an HFC component and a non-HFC component consisting essentially of methanol, having boiling points that are unexpectedly low and relatively constant, and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mary C. Bogdan, Kane D. Cook, Hang T. Pham, Gary M. Knopeck, Rajiv R. Singh