Patents by Inventor Bernadette A. Higgins

Bernadette A. Higgins 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).

  • Fiber reinforcement with 1-silacyclobutane crosslink units
    Patent number: 9816225
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition having a plurality of particles of a filler material and crosslinking units having the formula —(SiR—CH2—CH2—CH2)—. The silicon atom in the crosslinking unit is directly or indirectly bound to the filler material. Each R is alkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, methyl, ethyl, allyl, halogen, chloro, or bromo. Also disclosed herein is a filler material having the silicon atom of a silacyclobutane group is directly or indirectly bound thereto. Also disclosed herein is a method of crosslinking silacyclobutane groups bound to a plurality of particles of a filler material. The silicon atom of the silacyclobutane group is directly or indirectly bound to the filler material. Also disclosed herein is a composition including a plurality of fibers of a polymer having reactive oxygen atoms and siloxane groups. Coordination bonds are formed between the oxygen atoms and the silicon atoms of the siloxane groups of separate fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Duane L. Simonson, R. Andrew McGill, Bernadette A. Higgins, Michael Papantonakis
  • FIBER REINFORCEMENT WITH 1-SILACYCLOBUTANE CROSSLINK UNITS
    Publication number: 20160047085
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition having a plurality of particles of a filler material and crosslinking units having the formula —(SiR—CH2—CH2—CH2)—. The silicon atom in the crosslinking unit is directly or indirectly bound to the filler material. Each R is alkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, methyl, ethyl, allyl, halogen, chloro, or bromo. Also disclosed herein is a filler material having the silicon atom of a silacyclobutane group is directly or indirectly bound thereto. Also disclosed herein is a method of crosslinking silacyclobutane groups bound to a plurality of particles of a filler material. The silicon atom of the silacyclobutane group is directly or indirectly bound to the filler material. Also disclosed herein is a composition including a plurality of fibers of a polymer having reactive oxygen atoms and siloxane groups. Coordination bonds are formed between the oxygen atoms and the silicon atoms of the siloxane groups of separate fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Duane L. Simonson, R. Andrew McGill, Bernadette A. Higgins, Michael Papantonakis
  • Fiber reinforcement with 1-silacyclobutane crosslink units
    Patent number: 9169400
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition having a plurality of particles of a filler material and crosslinking units having the formula —(SiR—CH2—CH2—CH2)—. The silicon atom in the crosslinking unit is directly or indirectly bound to the filler material. Each R is alkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, methyl, ethyl, allyl, halogen, chloro, or bromo. Also disclosed herein is a filler material having the silicon atom of a silacyclobutane group is directly or indirectly bound thereto. Also disclosed herein is a method of crosslinking silacyclobutane groups bound to a plurality of particles of a filler material. The silicon atom of the silacyclobutane group is directly or indirectly bound to the filler material. Also disclosed herein is a composition including a plurality of fibers of a polymer having reactive oxygen atoms and siloxane groups. Coordination bonds are formed between the oxygen atoms and the silicon atoms of the siloxane groups of separate fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Duane L Simonson, R Andrew McGill, Bernadette A. Higgins, Michael Papantonakis
  • Selective membranes/thin films for analytical applications
    Patent number: 8148161
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition having: a polymer having a carbosilane or siloxane backbone and pendant hydrogen-bond acidic groups; and a filler material having polar groups. The polymer is not covalently bound to the filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Bernadette A. Higgins, Duane L. Simonson, Viet Nguyen, Jennifer L. Stepnowski, R Andrew McGill
  • FIBER REINFORCEMENT WITH 1-SILACYCLOBUTANE CROSSLINK UNITS
    Publication number: 20100029884
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition having a plurality of particles of a filler material and crosslinking units having the formula —(SiR—CH2—CH2—CH2)—. The silicon atom in the crosslinking unit is directly or indirectly bound to the filler material. Each R is alkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, methyl, ethyl, allyl, halogen, chloro, or bromo. Also disclosed herein is a filler material having the silicon atom of a silacyclobutane group is directly or indirectly bound thereto. Also disclosed herein is a method of crosslinking silacyclobutane groups bound to a plurality of particles of a filler material. The silicon atom of the silacyclobutane group is directly or indirectly bound to the filler material. Also disclosed herein is a composition including a plurality of fibers of a polymer having reactive oxygen atoms and siloxane groups. Coordination bonds are formed between the oxygen atoms and the silicon atoms of the siloxane groups of separate fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Duane L. Simonson, R. Andrew McGill, Bernadette A. Higgins, Michael Papantonakis
  • SELECTIVE MEMBRANES/THIN FILMS FOR ANALYTICAL APPLICATIONS
    Publication number: 20090301169
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition having: a polymer having a carbosilane or siloxane backbone and pendant hydrogen-bond acidic groups; and a filler material having polar groups. The polymer is not covalently bound to the filler material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Naval Research Laboratory
    Inventors: Bernadette A. Higgins, Duane L. Simonson, Viet Nguyen, Jennifer L. Stepnowski, R. Andrew McGill