Patents by Inventor Andrew L. LaFrate

Andrew L. LaFrate has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9446348
    Abstract: The present invention provides gels, solutions, films, membranes, compositions, and other materials containing polymerized and/or non-polymerized room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). These materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation and as antistatic agents. The RTILs are preferably imidazolium-based RTILs which are optionally substituted, such as with one or more hydroxyl groups. Optionally, the materials of the present invention are composite materials comprising both polymerized and non-polymerized RTILs. The RTIL polymer is formed from polymerized RTIL cations typically synthesized as monomers and polymerized in the presence of the non-polymerized RTIL cations to provide a solid composite material. The non-polymerized RTIL cations are not covalently bound to the cationic polymer but remain as free cations within the composite material able to associate with charged subunits of the polymer. These composite materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation, and antistatic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Jason E. Bara, Trevor K. Carlisle, Evan S. Hatakeyama, Douglas L. Gin, Richard D. Noble, Robert L. Kerr, Andrew L. LaFrate
  • Publication number: 20160175764
    Abstract: The present invention provides gels, solutions, films, membranes, compositions, and other materials containing polymerized and/or non-polymerized room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). These materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation and as antistatic agents. The RTILs are preferably imidazolium-based RTILs which are optionally substituted, such as with one or more hydroxyl groups. Optionally, the materials of the present invention are composite materials comprising both polymerized and non-polymerized RTILs. The RTIL polymer is formed from polymerized RTIL cations typically synthesized as monomers and polymerized in the presence of the non-polymerized RTIL cations to provide a solid composite material. The non-polymerized RTIL cations are not covalently bound to the cationic polymer but remain as free cations within the composite material able to associate with charged subunits of the polymer. These composite materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation, and antistatic applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: JASON E. BARA, TREVOR K. CARLISLE, EVAN S. HATAKEYAMA, DOUGLAS L. GIN, RICHARD D. NOBLE, ROBERT L. KERR, ANDREW L. LaFRATE
  • Publication number: 20150125372
    Abstract: Compositions comprising an organic salt, an amine and water are described herein. The methods of using the compositions include the removal of an acid gas from a gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicants: ION ENGINEERING, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
    Inventors: Ronald C. Stites, Jerrod Hohman, Trevor Carlisle, Andrew L. Lafrate, Jason E. Bara, Gregory Allan Staab, Michael C. Huffman
  • Publication number: 20150009456
    Abstract: A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Richard M. Powers, Wil McCarthy, Neil B. Cramer, Christopher M. Caldwell, Michael Pickford, Matthew B. Kish, Andrew L. LaFrate
  • Patent number: 8926732
    Abstract: The present invention provides gels, solutions, films, membranes, compositions, and other materials containing polymerized and/or non-polymerized room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). These materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation and as antistatic agents. The RTILs are preferably imidazolium-based RTILs which are optionally substituted, such as with one or more hydroxyl groups. Optionally, the materials of the present invention are composite materials comprising both polymerized and non-polymerized RTILs. The RTIL polymer is formed from polymerized RTIL cations typically synthesized as monomers and polymerized in the presence of the non-polymerized RTIL cations to provide a solid composite material. The non-polymerized RTIL cations are not covalently bound to the cationic polymer but remain as free cations within the composite material able to associate with charged subunits of the polymer. These composite materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation, and antistatic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate
    Inventors: Jason E. Bara, Trevor K. Carlisle, Evan S. Hatakeyama, Douglas L. Gin, Richard D. Noble, Robert L. Kerr, Andrew L. LaFrate
  • Patent number: 8828176
    Abstract: A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ravenbrick LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Powers, Wil McCarthy, Neil B. Cramer, Christopher M. Caldwell, Michael Pickford, Matthew B. Kish, Andrew L. LaFrate
  • Publication number: 20120186446
    Abstract: The present invention provides gels, solutions, films, membranes, compositions, and other materials containing polymerized and/or non-polymerized room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). These materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation and as antistatic agents. The RTILs are preferably imidazolium-based RTILs which are optionally substituted, such as with one or more hydroxyl groups. Optionally, the materials of the present invention are composite materials comprising both polymerized and non-polymerized RTILs. The RTIL polymer is formed from polymerized RTIL cations typically synthesized as monomers and polymerized in the presence of the non-polymerized RTIL cations to provide a solid composite material. The non-polymerized RTIL cations are not covalently bound to the cationic polymer but remain as free cations within the composite material able to associate with charged subunits of the polymer. These composite materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation, and antistatic applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Jason Bara, Trevor K. Carlisle, Evan S. Hatakeyama, Douglas L. Gin, Richard D. Noble, Robert L. Kerr, Andrew L. LaFrate
  • Publication number: 20110234944
    Abstract: A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: RavenBrick LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Powers, Wil McCarthy, Neil B. Cramer, Christopher M. Caldwell, Michael Pickford, Matthew B. Kish, Andrew L. LaFrate