Patents Examined by John M. Cooney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6756416
    Abstract: An ester polyurethane foam is prepared by reacting a mixture of one or more polyester polyols with one or more isocyanates and one or more silicone surfactants in the presence of a blowing agent, such as water, and other additives, such as catalysts. The cured foam is chemically treated in a caustic solution to form a hydrophilic ester polyurethane foam having a water absorption rate of at least 20 pounds of water per square foot per minute, preferably at least 25 pounds of water per square foot per minute. The foam also has greater water holding capacity and wet strength than cellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Foamex L.P.
    Inventors: Sharon A. Free, Vincenzo A. Bonaddio, Andrew M. Thompson, Joseph W. Lovette
  • Patent number: 6756414
    Abstract: This invention provides a polymer polyol composition (I) comprising a polyol (A) and polymer particles (B) dispersed in (A), the polymer particles (B) being formed by polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated compound (b) in a polyol, wherein the content of (B) in (I) is from 35 to 75 mass %, based on the mass of (I), and the amount of soluble polymers (P) dissolved in (A) is not more than 5 mass %, based on the mass of (A), and provides methods for producing the polymer polyol composition (I). Further, this invention provides a method for producing a foamed or non-foamed polyurethane resin, which method comprises reacting a polyol component with a polyisocyanate component in the presence or absence of a blowing agent, wherein the above polymer polyol composition is used at least as a portion of the polyol component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Kawamoto, Tomio Kawazoe, Kiyoshi Ikeda, Munekazu Satake, Futoshi Kitatani, Tsuyoshi Tomosada, Takeshi Furuta, Takayuki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6753357
    Abstract: A method for producing a rigid, closed-cell polyurethane foam having a free-rise density of from about 1.3 lbs./ft.3 to about 4 lbs./ft.3 and exhibiting a shrinkage of less than 10%, comprises mixing together an isocyanate, a methyl formate blowing agent and at least one polyol having a hydroxyl number of from about 150 to about 800 and being selected from the group consisting of polyalkoxylated amines, polyalkoxylated ethers, and polyester polyols, to form a reaction mixture that is curable to produce such foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Foam Supplies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy T. Kalinowski, David G. Keske, Victor Matimba, David L. Modray, Mark Schulte
  • Patent number: 6750311
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the determination of the concentration of biological levels of polyhydroxylated compounds, particularly glucose. The methods utilize an amplification system that is an analyte transducer immobilized in a polymeric matrix, where the system is implantable and biocompatible. Upon interrogation by an optical system, the amplification system produces a signal capable of detection external to the skin of the patient. Quantitation of the analyte of interest is achieved by measurement of the emitted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignees: MiniMed Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: William Peter Van Antwerp, John Joseph Mastrototaro, Stephen M. Lane, Joe H. Satcher, Jr., Christopher B. Darrow, Thomas A. Peyser, Jennifer Harder
  • Patent number: 6750367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel aromatic isocyanates obtained by partially hydrogenating naphthalene as well as the processes for preparing the same, and to their use as an isocyanate component in the production of polyurethanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Bayer Polymers LLC
    Inventors: Rick L. Adkins, Harold R. Parsons
  • Patent number: 6747068
    Abstract: The invention is a hydrophobic polyurethane foam prepared from a conventional PO/EO polyether polyol, a graft polyol and a hydrophobicity inducing surfactant. The foam is sufficiently hydrophobic to pass a stringent water impermeability test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Wm. T. Burnett & Co.
    Inventor: David J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6747069
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polyurethane foam which comprises reacting an organic polyisocyanate and a polyol in the presence of water as a blowing agent, a cell stabilizer, and a tertiary amine amide catalyst composition represented by formula (I): wherein A, R1-R6, and n are defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Juan Jesus Burdeniuc
  • Patent number: 6740687
    Abstract: Polyurethane foams formed under vacuum (below atmospheric pressure) conditions using toluene diisocyanate or a specific mixture of polyisocyanates with a specific mixture of polyether and graft polyols produces a foam with lower density and better flame retardancy than latex foam, but with equally high resiliency. The foam-forming ingredients are mixed together and foamed under controlled pressures in the range 0.6 to 0.95 bar (absolute), preferably 0.8 to 0.95 bar (absolute). The resulting foam has a ball rebound above about 65 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Foamex L.P.
    Inventors: Beat Niederoest, Andrew M. Thompson, Joseph W. Lovette, Chiu Y. Chan
  • Patent number: 6740686
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a polyurethane foam by reacting at least a polyester polyol with at least a polyisocyanate in the presence of a foaming agent and a catalytic agent, such a polyester polyol having been previously obtained by reacting a reactive acid A comprising at least an aliphatic or aromatic polyacid with functionality not less than 2 with at least a polyol P2 with functionality equal to 2 and at least an aliphatic or aromatic polyacid with functionality not less than 2 with at least a polyol P2 with functionality equal to 2 and at least a polyol P3 with functionality not less than 3, being thereafter called AP2P3, wherein the catalytic agent at least partly consists of at least one amine polyester polyol AP2P3, wherein at least part of polyol P3 consists of at least a polyoxyalkylene polyalkanolamine having at least a tertiary amine function, the alkanol radicals of said polyalkanolamine being C1-C6, the alkylene oxide units being C2-C4 and the statistical mean of the number N o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Crompton Corporation
    Inventors: Denis Ghesquiere, Remy Dumont
  • Patent number: 6737446
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polyurethane foam which comprises reacting an organic polyisocyanate and a polyol in the presence of water as a blowing agent, a cell stabilizer, a gelling catalyst, a blowing catalyst, and a tertiary amino alkyl amide catalyst composition. The catalyst composition is represented by the formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, A, and n are as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Juan Jesus Burdeniuc
  • Patent number: 6734220
    Abstract: Polyurethane foams formed at above atmospheric pressure conditions using methylene diisocyanate or a specific mixture of polyisocyanate and with a major portion of methylene diisocyanate (MDI) with a specific mixture of polyether and graft polyols produces high density viscoelastic foams with improved hand touch (surface smoothness) that better retain viscoelasticity over time. The foam-forming ingredients are mixed together and foamed at controlled pressures in the range 1.05 to 1.5 bar (absolute), preferably 1.1 to 1.3 bar (absolute).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Foamex L.P.
    Inventors: Beat Niederoest, Chiu Y. Chan, Robert Mohr
  • Patent number: 6730407
    Abstract: A soluble lubricating surface-treated stainless steel sheet with excellent shapability for fuel tanks, comprising a substrate having on both surfaces or one surface thereof a soluble lubricating resin film. Preferably, the soluble lubricating resin film mainly comprises (A) an alkali-soluble polyurethane resin composition containing a carboxyl group or a sulfonic acid group within the molecule and having a glass transition point of 100° C. or more as a dry film and (B) a lubricating function-imparting agent in an amount of from 1 to 30% by mass based on the polyurethane composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Mitsui Takeda Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoichiro Mori, Akihiro Miyasaka, Hiroshi Kanai, Ikuro Yamaoka, Tsutomu Tawa, Chikako Kouda, Mitsuhiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6727292
    Abstract: Process for flexible polyurethane foam manufacture via separate and variable component mixing of at least 3 separate component streams, where at least one of the streams is TDI and one other stream is a preferred composition of MDI. Further provided is an empirical method for determining the level of TDI over a wide range of water levels and formulation compositional differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Huntsman International LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Lockwood
  • Patent number: 6727290
    Abstract: In a process of generating a polyurethane foam by forming a mixture including isocyanate and polyol reactants, catalyst, and blowing agent, which mixture reacts exothermically to yield a rigid polyurethane foam, there is included in the mixture expandable polymer beads, made of a thermoplastic polymer (e.g., polystyrene or a polyolefin) that has a softening point at or below the maximum temperature reached during the exothermic reaction. The beads may be added in unexpanded form, partially expanded form, or fully expanded form. The heat of the urethane-forming reaction causes the beads to sinter, creating hollow polymeric spheres in the foam, which are larger than the cells in the polyurethane matrix, and which appear to improve the foam's crush resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hunter Paine Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Arthur J. Roth
  • Patent number: 6716890
    Abstract: Polyurethane foams formed using a specific mixture of polyether and graft polyols with toluene diisocyanate have fine cell size (over 70 pores per inch) and higher durability with IFD25 retention over 70% after 12,000 cycles of roll-shear. The foam-forming ingredients are mixed together and foamed at controlled pressures in the range 1.0 to 1.5 (absolute), preferably 1.05 to 1.5 bar (absolute). The foams make particularly good carpet cushions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Foamex L.P.
    Inventors: Beat Niederoest, Chiu Y. Chan, Neil Craig Silverman
  • Patent number: 6713521
    Abstract: A method of preparing a rigid polyurethane foam having improved thermal conductivity, and a composition for such rigid polyurethane foam is provided. In the preparation a rigid polyurethane foam from a composition comprising an aromatic polyisocyanate, a polyol, a blowing agent, a catalyst, a surfactant and other aids, the blowing agent is a blend of cyclopentane and water, and the polyol contains a polyether polyol prepared by addition-polymerizing an alkylene oxide to o-toluenediamine as an initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Takanori Chiba, Takuya Matsumoto, Keiji Ono, Takehiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6713522
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to water resistant peelable protective and decorative clear or pigmented foam 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 present 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: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Ashland Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Zhang, Richard J. Baumgart, Michael A. Dituro, Frances E. Lockwood, Daniel J. Dotson, Wen-Chen Su
  • Patent number: 6710095
    Abstract: A polyol composition containing a polyester polyol, at least 5 weight % of a compatibilizing agent, based on the weight of the polyol and compatibilizing agent, and a hydrocarbon blowing agent. The compatibilizing agent is one or a combination of a benzoate glycol adduct, a substituted benzoate glycol adduct, a naphthenate glycol adduct, a substituted naphthenate glycol adduct, a toluate glycol adduct, or a substituted toluate glycol adduct. The hydrocarbon blowing agent is selected from cyclopentane, isopentane, n-pentane, 2-chloropropane; 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a); 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa); and n-propylbromide, or mixtures thereof. The compatibilizing agent improves the miscibility of conventional polyester polyols with hydrocarbon blowing agents. The polyol composition can be reacted with a polyisocyanate to form a foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Arteva North America S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Carina Araullo-McAdams, John Canaday, Kelly Brown
  • Patent number: 6710096
    Abstract: Polyols initiated with a first initiator having a relatively high functionality averaging greater than eight and comprising a range of species of different functionality, and optionally a second initiator, having low functionality, i.e. a two to eight nominal functionality initiator molecule. Another aspect of the invention is a process for making the polyol. The invention is also directed to a process for producing polyurethane foam by reacting the polyol of the invention with isocyanates, and the foam produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond A. Neff, Duane A. Heyman
  • Patent number: 6709748
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible two component polyurethane and method for producing the polyurethane. The cured polyurethane is flexible, durable and weather resistant. The polyurethane is suitable for use as a protective layer on various substrates. The flexible polyurethane is the reaction product of solvent-free reaction components. The first component includes one or more polyols, optionally, one or more diols, and a catalyst. The second component includes a primary aliphatic isocyante crosslinker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Chia-Tie Ho, Clarence Fullbright, Jr.