Patents by Inventor Bryan Kirkman

Bryan Kirkman 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: 8735572
    Abstract: The present inventions relate to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have low intrinsic birefringence. These films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). These films are useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films and in molded optical parts, such as lenses. The resins of the present inventions can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, which is uncharacteristic of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods of melt casting films while minimizing birefringence. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to films made from the cellulose esters described herein further comprising a plasticizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Marcus David Shelby, Michael Eugene Donelson, Bradley Howard Dayvolt, Alan Kent Wilson, Bryan Kirkman
  • Patent number: 8344134
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films made with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have been found to have low intrinsic birefringence. Therefore, these films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). Such features make these films useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films as well as molded optical parts, such as lenses. Furthermore, it has also been found that resins of the present invention can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, a characteristic which is not typical of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films to be produced having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods melt casting films while minimizing birefringence formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Marcus David Shelby, Michael Eugene Donelson, Bradley Howard Dayvolt, Alan Kent Wilson, Bryan Kirkman
  • Patent number: 8329893
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films made with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have been found to have low intrinsic birefringence. Therefore, these films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). Such features make these films useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films as well as molded optical parts, such as lenses. Furthermore, it has also been found that resins of the present invention can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, a characteristic which is not typical of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films to be produced having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods melt casting films while minimizing birefringence formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Marcus David Shelby, Michael Eugene Donelson, Bradley Howard Dayvolt, Alan Kent Wilson, Bryan Kirkman
  • Publication number: 20100089288
    Abstract: The present inventions relate to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have low intrinsic birefringence. These films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). These films are useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films and in molded optical parts, such as lenses. The resins of the present inventions can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, which is uncharacteristic of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods of melt casting films while minimizing birefringence. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to films made from the cellulose esters described herein further comprising a plasticizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Marcus David Shelby, Michael Eugene Donelson, Bradley Howard Dayvolt, Alan Kent Wilson, Bryan Kirkman
  • Publication number: 20100093996
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films made with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have been found to have low intrinsic birefringence. These films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). Such features make these films useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films as well as molded optical parts, such as lenses. Furthermore, it has also been found that resins of the present invention can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, a characteristic which is not typical of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films to be produced having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods melt casting films while minimizing birefringence formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Marcus David Shelby, Michael Eugene Donelson, Bradley Howard Dayvolt, Alan Kent Wilson, Bryan Kirkman
  • Publication number: 20090050842
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films made with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have been found to have low intrinsic birefringence. Therefore, these films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). Such features make these films useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films as well as molded optical parts, such as lenses. Furthermore, it has also been found that resins of the present invention can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, a characteristic which is not typical of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films to be produced having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods melt casting films while minimizing birefringence formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Marcus David Shelby, Michael Eugene Donelson, Bradley Howard Dayvolt, Alan Kent Wilson, Bryan Kirkman
  • Publication number: 20090054638
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films made with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have been found to have low intrinsic birefringence. Therefore, these films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). Such features make these films useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films as well as molded optical parts, such as lenses. Furthermore, it has also been found that resins of the present invention can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, a characteristic which is not typical of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films to be produced having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods melt casting films while minimizing birefringence formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Marcus David Shelby, Michael Eugene Donelson, Bradley Howard Dayvolt, Alan Kent Wilson, Bryan Kirkman