Patents Examined by Samuel A. Acquah
  • manufacture of certain cyclic ester oligomers
    Patent number: 6979720
    Abstract: Enzymes which are capable of catalyzing esterifications and/or transesterifications such as selected lipases and esterases can, under specified conditions, convert certain lower linear oligomers of polyesters to their cyclic ester oligomers in quantities greater than would be predicted by thermodynamic calculation or prior art methods. The cyclic ester oligomers are useful for the production of higher molecular weight linear polyesters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Edward G. Brugel, Robert Di Cosimo
  • Thermoplastic elastomer comprising poly(trimethylene-ethylene ether) soft segment and polyamide hard segment
    Patent number: 6979492
    Abstract: A poly(trimethylene-ethylene ether) amide comprises a soft segment from poly(trimethylene-ethylene ether) glycol and a polyamide hard segment, preferably joined by ester linkages. The poly(trimethylene-ethylene ether) ester amides in accordance with the invention are particularly useful as shaped articles. The shaped articles are, preferably, prepared from fibers, fabrics or films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Hari Babu Sunkara
  • Continuous process for converting polytetramethylene ether diester to polytetramethylene ether glycol
    Patent number: 6979752
    Abstract: A continuous process for converting by transesterification the diester of polytetramethylene ether (PTMEA) to the corresponding polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG). The process is characterized by the fact that the feed, consisting of PTMEA along with an alkanol (preferably methanol) and with an alkali metal oxide, hydroxide or alkoxide catalyst (preferably sodium methaoxide) is made to react in two multistaged reactions in series. In the first reactant, including stages of retention in association with distillation trays of high efficiency, the bulk of conversion is achieved by stripping the alkanol ester formed in the transesterification with vapors of hot alkanol having a reduced content of alkanol ester. The transesterification is completed in the second reaction by stripping the effluent from the first reactor with vapors of hot alkanol almost free of alkanol ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Aldo Bertola, Salvatore Cassarino, Myriam Hobe
  • Preparation of dicyclopentadiene-containing unsaturated polyesters
    Patent number: 6977282
    Abstract: A process for making dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)-containing polyesters is disclosed. The process comprises reacting 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol with maleic anhydride to form an acid terminated prepolymer and then reacting the prepolymer with a low grade DCPD to form DCPD-containing polyesters. The reaction of the prepolymer with DCPD is catalyzed by a transition metal triflate catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventor: Lau S. Yang
  • Method for control of temperature-sensitivity of polymers in solution
    Patent number: 6974660
    Abstract: Temperature sensitive, water soluble polymers are disclosed, together with a method for control the LCST of the polymer. The polymers include hydrophillic components and hydrophobic components joined by linking groups such as ester or amide groups wherein the hydrophilic components includes m ethylene oxide groups, the hydrophobic components consist of aliphatic groups such as n ethylenes and/or n cycloaliphatic groups, and where 1?m?30 and 1?n?30. Substrates bearing the grafted temperature responsive polymers also are disclosed. Microfluidic devices which include the temperature responsive polymers also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Evangelos Manias, Mindaugas Rackaitis, Kenneth E Strawhecker
  • Encapsulated agglomeration of microcapsules and method for the preparation thereof
    Patent number: 6974592
    Abstract: Microcapsules comprising an agglomeration of primary microcapsules, each individual primary microcapsule having a primary shell and the agglomeration being encapsulated by an outer shell, may be prepared by providing an aqueous mixture of a loading substance and a shell material, adjusting pH, temperature, concentration and/or mixing speed to form primary shells of shell material around the loading substance and cooling the aqueous mixture until the primary shells agglomerate and an outer shell of shell material forms around the agglomeration. Such microcapsules are useful for storing a substance and for delivering the substance to a desired environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited
    Inventor: Nianxi Yan
  • Polyesters having improved water affinity
    Patent number: 6972316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a series of esters that are water insoluble and hydrophobic. Surprisingly however we have found that by selecting the proper polyester having (a) a dipentaerythritol portion, in which several hydroxyl groups remain unreacted and consequently polar, (b) a polyhydroxystearic acid polyester portion and (c) a mono-fatty acid portion esters that will have an affinity for water are prepared. These esters allow for the incorporation of three times their weight in water into pigmented products, where they improve creaminess, emmoliency, skin feel, humectancy and long wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Phoenix Research Corp
    Inventors: John Imperante, Anthony J. O'Lenick, Jr.
  • Microcapsules and emulsions containing low bloom gelatin and methods of making and using thereof
    Patent number: 6969530
    Abstract: Described herein are microcapsules and emulsions prepared from low Bloom gelatin and methods of making and using thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Michael Curtis, Wei Zhang, Yulai Jin
  • Method for the production of polybutylene terephthalate
    Patent number: 6967235
    Abstract: In a process of producing PBT, a mixture of BDO and TPA is esterified in the presence of a catalyst solution, and the esterification product is polycondensated. To avoid the formation of deposits in the PBT, the catalyst solution contains 0.05 to 10 wt-% alkyl titanate, 85 to 99 wt-% BDO, 50 to 50,000 ppm bifunctional carboxylic acid equivalents and/or monofunctional hydroxycarboxylic acid equivalents and not more than 0.5 wt-% water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Zimmer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eckhard Seidel, Fritz Wilhelm
  • Production of dyed polymer microparticles
    Patent number: 6964747
    Abstract: A dye, such as a fluorescent dye, is incorporated into polymer microparticles using a solvent system composed of a first solvent in which the dye and the microparticle polymer are soluble, a second solvent in which the dye and the microparticle polymer are not or only weakly soluble, and a third solvent in which the dye and the microparticle polymer are not or only weakly soluble. The first and second solvents are immiscible with each other, or at most partially miscible. The third solvent is miscible with the first and second solvents. The formulation provides substantially complete partitioning of the dye to the microparticles. The method may be used to obtain dyed polymer microparticle formed of cross-linked or non-cross-linked polymers. Libraries are provided comprising two or more sets of microparticles of different dye loadings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Bioarray Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sukanta Banerjee, Cecilia Georgescu, Eric S. Daniels, Victoria L. Dimonie, Michael Seul
  • Intimate physical mixtures containing macrocyclic polyester oligomer and filler
    Patent number: 6960626
    Abstract: The invention provides intimate physical mixtures of macrocyclic polyester oligomer (MPO) and filler, as well as methods for their preparation and use. Improved dispersion of filler in a polymer matrix is achieved upon polymerization, and larger amounts of filler with high aspect ratio can be used. In one aspect, the invention provides mixtures of MPO with magnesium silicate. In another aspect, the invention provides a mixture of MPO, filler, and polymerization catalyst as a one-part, ready-to-polymerize material with a long shelf life. The one-part material can be used, for example, in the manufacture of parts without modification of existing processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Cyclics Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Takekoshi, Steven R. Bahr, Steven J. Winckler
  • Water-absorbing polymers with supramolecular hollow molecules, method for producing them and use of the same
    Patent number: 6958429
    Abstract: The invention relates to absorbent polymers based on optionally partially neutralised, monoethylenically unsaturated, acid group-carrying monomers. The surfaces of said polymers are re-cross-linked. The inventive polymers also have cyclodextrines and/or cyclodextrine derivatives which are covalently and/or ionically bonded and/or included therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Bruhn, Edgar Herrmann, Jörg Issberner, Dagmar Kersten, Richard Mertens, Georg Werner
  • Process for making microcapsules involving phase inversion
    Patent number: 6955823
    Abstract: A process for making microcapsules of an oil which are in dispersion in water comprises the steps of; (i) forming an initial dispersion of the oil in water in the presence of a surfactant, (ii) heating the initial dispersion above its phase inversion temperature, to form a bicontinuous phase composition, (iii) allowing or causing the composition to cool to below the phase inversion temperature so as to form an emulsion of oil droplets in the water, and (iv) encapsulating the oil droplets. The oil preferably has dissolved in it an oil-soluble or oil-dispersible active ingredient selected from agrochemicals, cosmetics, fragrances, sun-screens, ink-jet dyes, pigments, toners, biocides and pharmaceutical and veterinary products including drug delivery systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Derek Casson, Stephen Dawson, Neil George, Ian Malcolm Shirley
  • Continuous process for the preparation of encapsulated cyclopropenes
    Patent number: 6953540
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous method to prepare encapsulated cyclopropenes, a method to purify cyclopropene gas, and a method to prepare an ?-cyclodextrin/cyclopropene complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Joshua Anthony Chong, Vincent John Farozic, Richard Martin Jacobson, Bret Alan Snyder, Randall Wayne Stephens, David Wayne Mosley
  • Block copolymers based on poly(ortho esters) containing amine groups
    Patent number: 6946145
    Abstract: Block copolymers based on poly(ortho esters) containing amine groups. These block copolymers have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks. They form micelles in aqueous solution, making them suitable for encapsulation or solubilization of hydrophobic or water-insoluble materials; and they also form bioerodible matrices for the sustained release of active agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: A.P. Pharma, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Y. Ng, Jorge Heller
  • Poly (alkylene oxide) prepared in the presence of a phosphazenium salt or compound
    Patent number: 6936684
    Abstract: A salt useful as an active species in an organic reaction and represented by the following chemical formula (1): wherein n stands for an integer of from 1 to 8, Zn? represents an n-valent anion of an active hydrogen compound, a, b, c and d each stands for a positive integer, and Rs represent the same or different hydrocarbon groups. In addition, a simple and efficient process is provided for producing a poly(alkylene oxide) by polymerizing an alkylene oxide compound in the presence of the salt represented by the chemical formula (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tadahito Nobori, Masahiro Kouno, Toshiaki Suzuki, Kazumi Mizutani, Shinji Kiyono, Yoshiho Sonobe, Usaji Takaki
  • Amphiphilic compounds having a dendritic branch structure
    Patent number: 6933352
    Abstract: An amphiphilic compound having a dendritic branch structure represented by general formula (I): In the formula (I), R0 is a hydrophilic group; R1 and R2 are independently a hydrophobic group; and n is an integer of 1 to 4. This amphiphilic compound is capable of stably fixing a water-soluble polymer onto a surface structure by taking advantage of intermolecular interaction, thereby enabling the water-soluble polymer to be carried thereon without giving any damage to the function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Eishun Tsuchida, Shinji Takeoka, Keitaro Sou, Haruki Ohkawa
  • Process to produce unsaturated polyester polyols
    Patent number: 6927252
    Abstract: The process consists of making react (i) an alkylene oxide polyether polyol, (ii) an organic compound which has an ethylenic unsaturation and a hydroxyl, carboxyl, anhydride, isocyanate or epoxy group and (iii) an alkylene oxide selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof, in the presence of an effective quantity of a potassium naphthenate catalyst. The unsaturated polyester polyols produced have a reduced degree of unsaturation and are useful in the synthesis of polymeric polyols with good viscosity, filterability and particle size properties, suitable for the production of cellular polyurethane compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Repsol Quimica, S.A.
    Inventors: Mariano Malaga Mellado, Julian Gonzalez Rivero
  • Microsphere
    Patent number: 6919685
    Abstract: This invention comprises the use of microspheres containing ionizable gas in a gas discharge (plasma) display, photons for the gas discharge within a microsphere exciting a phosphor such that the phosphor emits wavelengths in both the visible or invisible spectrum. The invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to an AC gas discharge (plasma) display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Imaging Systems Technology INC
    Inventors: Timothy M. Henderson, Donald K. Wedding
  • Biaxially stretched polyester film for forming container and method of producing the film
    Patent number: RE38928
    Abstract: A biaxially stretched polyester film for forming a container, characterized by being formed of a polyester substantially consisting of an ethylene terephthalate unit and an ethylene naphthalate unit, the refractive index in the direction of thickness of the film being 1.5 or greater. This film is not only excellent in the formability during formation into cans or the like, but has excellent properties in taste property, particularly, the taste property after the retorting, and may be suitably used for containers produced by forming process and, particularly, for metallic cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kimura, Kohzo Takahashi, Hiroji Kojima, Koichi Abe