Patents by Inventor Asutosh Nigam

Asutosh Nigam 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).

  • Publication number: 20090208675
    Abstract: The present invention provides textile articles of commerce and their production via a method for applying a sparkling reflective, luminescent, semi-metallic, or metallic image to a receptor element having valleys or pores, which comprises the steps of (i) providing a transfer sheet comprising a support having a first surface and a second surface and having printable ink receiving media as a top layer for recording a positive or negative sparkling, reflective, luminescent, semi-metallic, or metallic image comprising a sparkly reflective, luminescent, semi-metallic or metallic substrate coated with a semi-opaque or opaque primarily inorganic and/or organic polymeric porous particles and a binder containing ink-receptive layer that is rendered semi-translucent or translucent upon recording of an ink image, and a coating capable of receiving an image on the first or second surface of the support, (ii) imaging the coating with a positive or negative image, (iii) dry peeling the coating from the support in the abs
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Publication number: 20090009577
    Abstract: The present invention provides textile articles of commerce and their production via a method of providing a light-emitting, reflective, luminescent, holographic, semi-metallic, or metallic imaged or imageable media in a cut sheet format of less than or equal to about 11 by 17 inches and having at least 2 permanent functional layers and at least one transient removable layer, wherein the transient layer can be peeled off and removed prior to applying to a textile, fabric or canvas receptor element the remaining media portion having at least two permanent layers, wherein the receptor element has at least one surface with valleys or pores, or having at least one surface that is substantially smooth or textured that can be adhered to by the imaged or imageable media, and wherein the receptor element may be a flexible, semi-rigid or rigid textile, fabric, or canvas element, and further wherein the at least two permanent layers of the media comprised a metallic layer and an ink receptor layer, and wherein the ink
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Patent number: 7285320
    Abstract: The present invention features processes and compositions for producing a metallic-looking image on a substrate having a reflective or luminescent surface. The process utilizes an opaque coating composition containing an opaque coating agent comprising a mixture of a polyacid and a polybase. When applied to a light-emitting, reflective or luminescent substrate, the opaque coating composition at least partially masks the light-emitting reflective or luminescent surface of the substrate, but becomes increasingly translucent or transparent when contacted with a recording liquid such as an ink, revealing the light-emitting, reflective or luminescent surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Patent number: 7179858
    Abstract: The present invention features novel methods and compositions for coating textile substrates, wherein the coating compositions are composed of a coating agent selected from one of (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, and (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. Textile substrates coated with the compositions provide high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent in the textile coating composition. Images printed on a textile substrate coated with a coating composition of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), detergent-resistant (e.g., detergent-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Patent number: 7041338
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making a coated substrate such as paper, by utilizing a coating composition containing a nitrogenous dye-fixing compound. The coating compositions utilized in the process contains from 5–95 wt. percent of a film-forming binder mixed with a dye fixing compound, dye fixing polymer or a mixture thereof that includes a dye fixing compound selected from a biguanidine compound, a guanidine oligomer, or a derivative, which is a member selected from the such group consisting of chlorhexidine, chlorguanide, an oligomer of a chlorhexidine or chlorguanidine derivative, or a salt thereof, wherein the ink-receptive surface coating composition or agent may also include at least one organic or inorganic cross-linker, as well as other coating substituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Pixterra, Inc.
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Patent number: 6936316
    Abstract: The present invention features a multi-layer ink-jet recording medium, suitable for recording images with dye and pigmented inks and thereby providing light-emitting, reflective, glossy, metallic-looking or holographic images, comprising a substrate coated with at least two layers comprising: (a) a first transparent ink-receptive layer comprising a polymeric binder and a cross-linker and optionally having a plasticizer and pigment particles such as alumina and silica coated over the substrate, wherein the cross-linker comprises and azetidinium polymer or a salt thereof, and/or a polyfunctinal aziridine or a salt thereof or a polyfunctional oxazoline or a salt thereof; and (b) a second ink-receptive layer comprising an opaque or semi-opaque coating composition, wherein the opaque or semi-opaque coating composition is capable of accepting a printed image and thereby becoming semi transparent or clearly transparent from application of ink-jet printing ink or similar inks, while presenting a light-emitting, re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventors: Asutosh Nigam, Ravi Renduchintala
  • Publication number: 20040232377
    Abstract: The present invention features novel methods and compositions for coating textile substrates, wherein the coating compositions are composed of a coating agent selected from one of (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, and (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. Textile substrates coated with the compositions provide high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent in the textile coating composition. Images printed on a textile substrate coated with a coating composition of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), detergent-resistant (e.g., detergent-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Publication number: 20040228966
    Abstract: The present invention features processes and compositions for producing a metallic-looking image on a substrate having a reflective or luminescent surface. The process utilizes an opaque coating composition containing an opaque coating agent comprising a mixture of a polyacid and a polybase. When applied to a light-emitting, reflective or luminescent substrate, the opaque coating composition at least partially masks the light-emitting reflective or luminescent surface of the substrate, but becomes increasingly translucent or transparent when contacted with a recording liquid such as an ink, revealing the light-emitting, reflective or luminescent surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Publication number: 20040202832
    Abstract: The present invention features an inkjet recording medium suitable for recording images with dye and pigmented inks, comprising a substrate coated with at least two layers comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Asutosh Nigam, Ravi Renduchintala
  • Patent number: 6776921
    Abstract: The present invention features novel methods and compositions for coating textile substrates, wherein the coating compositions are composed of a coating agent selected from one of (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, and (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. Textile substrates coated with the compositions provide high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent in the textile coating composition. Images printed on a textile substrate coated with a coating composition of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), detergent-resistant (e.g., detergent-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Patent number: 6761977
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for improving the quality of images printed on a substrate. The novel image-enhancing compositions contain as an image-enhancing agent (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, or (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. When applied to a substrate, the compositions provide for high quality printed images when the treated substrate is printed on with an ink containing a reactive dye capable of reacting with the image-enhancing agent. Images printed on a substrate treated with the image-enhancing compositions of the invention are water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), bleed-resistant, rub-resistant, and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Publication number: 20040109958
    Abstract: The present invention features a multi-layer ink-jet recording medium, suitable for recording images with dye and pigmented inks and thereby providing light-emitting, reflective, glossy, metallic-looking or holographic images, comprising a substrate coated with at least two layers comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Asutosh Nigam, Ravi Renduchintala
  • Patent number: 6723383
    Abstract: The present invention features processes and compositions for producing a metallic-looking image on a substrate having a reflective or luminescent surface. The process utilizes an opaque coating composition containing an opaque coating agent comprising a mixture of a polyacid and a polybase. When applied to a light-emitting, reflective or luminescent substrate, the opaque coating composition at least partially masks the light-emitting reflective or luminescent surface of the substrate, but becomes increasingly translucent or transparent when contacted with a recording liquid such as an ink, revealing the light-emitting, reflective or luminescent surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Patent number: 6686054
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the sizing of paper, to enhance the quality of images printed thereon. The novel sizing compositions contain as a sizing agent: (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, or (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. When applied to a paper substrate, such as in an internal or external sizing process, the sizing compositions result in a sized paper substrate that provides high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the sizing agent. Images printed on a paper substrate coated with the sizing compositions of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Publication number: 20030219539
    Abstract: The present invention features the production of a coated substrate such as paper, and more particularly relates to a novel substrate coating process and novel compositions useful in conjunction therewith. In one aspect the present invention features coating compositions and methods for improving the quality of images printed on a paper substrate. The novel coating compositions contain from 5-95 wt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Patent number: 6596805
    Abstract: The present invention provides: an aqueous fast-drying resin composition which is excellent in the fast driability and can exhibit performances with regard to adhesion and resistance on a level with those of solvent type compositions; a production process for the aqueous fast-drying resin composition; and a use of the aqueous fast-drying resin composition as a gravure ink composition. An aqueous fast-drying resin composition comprises an anionic resin, a cationic resin, and a polyvalent metallic compound. In addition, another aqueous fast-drying resin composition comprises an aqueous medium and a resin component wherein the aqueous medium will be removed by drying. In this aqueous fast-drying resin composition, the resin component is combined with a polyvalent metallic compound and includes a combination of an anionic resin and a cationic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Asutosh Nigam, Chien-Chang David Yao, Ravi S Renduchintala, Koichiro Saeki, Masakazu Morimoto, Takashi Miyai
  • Publication number: 20030087112
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for improving the quality of images printed on a substrate. The novel image-enhancing compositions contain as an image-enhancing agent (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, or (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. When applied to a substrate, the compositions provide for high quality printed images when the treated substrate is printed on with an ink containing a reactive dye capable of reacting with the image-enhancing agent. Images printed on a substrate treated with the image-enhancing compositions of the invention are water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), bleed-resistant, rub-resistant, and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Publication number: 20030062506
    Abstract: The present invention features novel methods and compositions for coating textile substrates, wherein the coating compositions are composed of a coating agent selected from one of (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, and (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. Textile substrates coated with the compositions provide high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent in the textile coating composition. Images printed on a textile substrate coated with a coating composition of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), detergent-resistant (e.g., detergent-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Publication number: 20030059636
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the sizing of paper, to enhance the quality of images printed thereon. The novel sizing compositions contain as a sizing agent: (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, or (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. When applied to a paper substrate, such as in an internal or external sizing process, the sizing compositions result in a sized paper substrate that provides high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the sizing agent. Images printed on a paper substrate coated with the sizing compositions of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam
  • Patent number: 6478980
    Abstract: The present invention features novel methods and compositions for coating textile substrates, wherein the coating compositions are composed of a coating agent selected from one of (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, and (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. Textile substrates coated with the compositions provide high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent in the textile coating composition. Images printed on a textile substrate coated with a coating composition of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), detergent-resistant (e.g., detergent-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventor: Asutosh Nigam