Patents by Inventor Carl Steven Nichols

Carl Steven Nichols 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: 8791225
    Abstract: A method for making polyethylene terephthalate resin in which a titanium-nitride polycondensation catalyst is introduced during the initial stages of esterification or transesterification. The titanium-nitride polycondensation catalyst may be added to a mixture containing a terephthalate component and a diol component during the formation of a polyethylene terephthalate precursor. Subsequent polycondensation of the polyethylene terephthalate precursor forms a polyethylene terephthalate polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: DAK Americas Mississippi Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Steven Nichols
  • Patent number: 8524343
    Abstract: The present invention relates to titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins that are capable of being formed into articles (e.g., carbonated soft drink and water bottle preforms) at reduced injection-molding cycle times. In particular, the titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins of the present invention can be formed into carbonated soft drink bottle preforms at reduced injection-molding cycle times to yield high-clarity, carbonated soft drink bottles that possess satisfactory resistance to stress cracking and thermal creep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: DAK Americas Mississippi Inc.
    Inventors: David Eugene Thompson, Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Sharon Sue Griffith, Billy Mack Humelsine, Robert Joseph Schiavone
  • Patent number: 8304510
    Abstract: The present invention relates to slow-crystallizing, titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins that are useful for making high-strength, high-clarity bottles that possess improved resistance to stress cracking and thermal creep. The polyethylene terephthalate resins possess improved reheating profiles and are especially useful for making polyester articles that have exceptional clarity, dimensional stability, and thermal stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Wellman Inc.
    Inventors: David Eugene Thompson, Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Sharon Sue Griffith, Billy Mack Humelsine, Robert Joseph Schiavone
  • Publication number: 20120148771
    Abstract: The present invention relates to titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins that are capable of being formed into articles (e.g., carbonated soft drink and water bottle preforms) at reduced injection-molding cycle times. In particular, the titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins of the present invention can be formed into carbonated soft drink bottle preforms at reduced injection-molding cycle times to yield high-clarity, carbonated soft drink bottles that possess satisfactory resistance to stress cracking and thermal creep.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: WELLMAN, INC.
    Inventors: David Eugene Thompson, Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Sharon Sue Griffith, Billy Mack Humelsine, Robert Joseph Schiavone
  • Publication number: 20110212282
    Abstract: The present invention relates to slow-crystallizing, titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins that are useful for making high-strength, high-clarity bottles that possess improved resistance to stress cracking and thermal creep. The polyethylene terephthalate resins possess improved reheating profiles and are especially useful for making polyester articles that have exceptional clarity, dimensional stability, and thermal stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: WELLMAN, INC.
    Inventors: David Eugene Thompson, Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Sharon Sue Griffith, Billy Mack Humelsine, Robert Joseph Schiavone
  • Patent number: 7858731
    Abstract: The invention embraces polyester resins and containers that include surface-modified talc. The invention also embraces a method for the late introduction of surface-modified talc via a reactive carrier to achieve a polyester resin that is capable of being formed into low-haze, high-clarity bottles possessing reduced coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Lee Edwards, Carl Steven Nichols, Robert Joseph Schiavone, Sharon Sue Griffith, Tony Clifford Moore
  • Patent number: 7829656
    Abstract: The invention is a method for making condensation polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate polyester. The method includes introducing a catalyst system, which includes a coordination catalyst component and an acid component, to a polycondensation reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Daniel Allen Huenefeld
  • Publication number: 20100221472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to slow-crystallizing, titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins that are useful for making high-strength, high-clarity bottles that possess improved resistance to stress cracking and thermal creep. The polyethylene terephthalate resins possess improved reheating profiles and are especially useful for making polyester articles that have exceptional clarity, dimensional stability, and thermal stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: WELLMAN, INC.
    Inventors: David Eugene Thompson, Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Sharon Sue Griffith, Billy Mack Humelsine, Robert Joseph Schiavone
  • Patent number: 7763701
    Abstract: The invention is a method for making condensation polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate polyester. The method includes introducing to a polycondensation reaction a catalyst system that includes a coordination catalyst and a composite catalyst, which includes an acid component and an auxiliary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Daniel Allen Huenefeld
  • Publication number: 20090306313
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making polyethylene terephthalate resin in which a titanium-nitride polycondensation catalyst is introduced prior to or during the initial stages of esterification or transesterification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: WELLMAN, INC.
    Inventor: Carl Steven Nichols
  • Publication number: 20090198022
    Abstract: The invention is a method for making condensation polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate polyester. The method includes introducing a catalyst system, which includes a coordination catalyst component and an acid component, to a polycondensation reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: WELLMAN, INC.
    Inventors: Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Daniel Allen Huenefeld
  • Publication number: 20090187002
    Abstract: The invention is a method for making condensation polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate polyester. The method includes introducing to a polycondensation reaction a catalyst system that includes a coordination catalyst and a composite catalyst, which includes an acid component and an auxiliary component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Daniel Allen Huenefeld
  • Publication number: 20090176046
    Abstract: The present invention relates to slow-crystallizing, titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins that are useful for making high-strength, high-clarity bottles that possess improved resistance to stress cracking and thermal creep. The polyethylene terephthalate resins possess improved reheating profiles and are especially useful for making polyester articles that have exceptional clarity, dimensional stability, and thermal stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: WELLMAN, INC.
    Inventors: David Eugene Thompson, Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Sharon Sue Griffith, Billy Mack Humelsine, Robert Joseph Schiavone
  • Publication number: 20080274317
    Abstract: The present invention relates to titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins that are capable of being formed into articles (e.g., carbonated soft drink and water bottle preforms) at reduced injection-molding cycle times. In particular, the titanium-catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate resins of the present invention can be formed into carbonated soft drink bottle preforms at reduced injection-molding cycle times to yield high-clarity, carbonated soft drink bottles that possess satisfactory resistance to stress cracking and thermal creep.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: WELLMAN, INC.
    Inventors: David Eugene Thompson, Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Sharon Sue Griffith, Billy Mack Humelsine, Robert Joseph Schiavone
  • Publication number: 20080226856
    Abstract: The invention embraces polyester resins and containers that include surface-modified talc. The invention also embraces a method for the late introduction of surface-modified talc via a reactive carrier to achieve a polyester resin that is capable of being formed into low-haze, high-clarity bottles possessing reduced coefficient of friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Welllman, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Lee Edwards, Robert Joseph Schiavone, Sharon Sue Griffith, Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore
  • Patent number: 6803082
    Abstract: The invention is a method for the late introduction of additives into polyethylene terephthalate. The method employs a reactive carrier that functions as a delivery vehicle for one or more additives. The reactive carrier reacts with the polyethylene terephthalate, thereby binding the reactive carrier in the polyethylene terephthalate resin and preventing the emergence of the reactive carrier and additives from the polyethylene terephthalate during subsequent thermal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore
  • Publication number: 20040096609
    Abstract: The invention is a method for the late introduction of additives into polyethylene terephthalate. The method employs a reactive carrier that functions as a delivery vehicle for one or more additives. The reactive carrier reacts with the polyethylene terephthalate, thereby binding the reactive carrier in the polyethylene terephthalate resin and preventing the emergence of the reactive carrier and additives from the polyethylene terephthalate during subsequent thermal processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore
  • Patent number: 6710158
    Abstract: The invention is a polyester resin that includes between about 20 and 200 ppm of an inert particulate additive, preferably selected from the group consisting of surface-modified talc and surface-modified calcium carbonate. The invention is also a method of making the polyester resin, which is capable of being formed into low-haze, high-clarity bottles possessing reduced coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Lee Edwards, Robert Joseph Schiavone, Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore
  • Patent number: 6623853
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of copolymerizing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and branching agent into polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to achieve a polyethylene glycol-modified polyester composition that can be spun into filaments. Fabrics made from fibers formed from the copolyester composition possess wicking, dyeability, and tactility properties that are superior to those of fabrics formed from conventional polyethylene terephthalate fibers of the same yarn and fabric construction. Also disclosed are polyethylene glycol modified copolyester compositions, fibers, yarns, and fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: James Burch Branum, Keith James Carnes, Billy Mack Humelsine, Carl Steven Nichols
  • Patent number: 6599596
    Abstract: The invention is a novel method for the late introduction of additives into a continuous process for making polyethylene terephthalate. The method employs a reactive carrier that functions as a delivery vehicle for one or more additives. The reactive carrier reacts with the polyethylene terephthalate, thereby binding the reactive carrier in the polyethylene terephthalate resin and preventing the emergence of the reactive carrier and additives from the polyethylene terephthalate during subsequent thermal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore