Patents by Inventor Eric B. Stephens

Eric B. Stephens 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: 7632682
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions of N,N?-dialkyleneoxy-substituted 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone colorants which contain a low percentage of impurities, to a process to make the compositions, and also to the use of the compositions thus prepared for coloring consumer products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: X. Michael Hong, Robert L. Mahaffey, Eric B. Stephens, Richard A. Vandahm
  • Patent number: 7544804
    Abstract: Colorant compositions are useful for a wide variety of product applications. For example, colorants are used in tinting of polymers, providing colors to aqueous solution(s), and affording color to solid or semi-solid products such as detergents. Disclosed herein are colorant compositions having a triphenylmethane (“TPM”) structure having improved stability to alkaline conditions. Thus, the colorant compositions resist decolorization, even at relatively high pH levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Inventors: Eric B. Stephens, Pat Moore
  • Patent number: 7342113
    Abstract: Colorant compositions are useful for a wide variety of product applications. For example, colorants are used in tinting of polymers, providing colors to aqueous solution(s), and affording color to solid or semi-solid products such as detergents. Disclosed herein are colorant compositions having a triphenylmethane (“TPM”) structure having improved stability to alkaline conditions. Thus, the colorant compositions resist decolorization, even at relatively high pH levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Eric B. Stephens, Pat Moore
  • Patent number: 7097669
    Abstract: Colorant compositions are useful for a wide variety of product applications. For example, colorants are used in tinting of polymers, providing colors to aqueous solution(s), and affording color to solid or semi-solid products such as detergents. Disclosed herein are colorant compositions having a triphenylmethane (“TPM”) derived structure having improved stability to alkaline conditions. Thus, the colorant compositions resist decolorization, even at relatively high pH levels. The colorant compositions of the invention are useful as applied in polyolefins, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, as examples. These colorant compositions also may be employed in thermoplastics, such as PET, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Eric B. Stephens, Pat Moore
  • Patent number: 7094918
    Abstract: Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are low in color (and thus permit use without the concomitant necessity of adding large amounts of other coloring agents to combat such discoloring), and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mary E. Mason, Eric B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 7014797
    Abstract: Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are extremely low in color and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Todd D. Danielson, Xiaodong E. Zhao, Mary E. Mason, Daniel M. Connor, Eric B. Stephens, Jason D. Sprinkle, Jusong Xia
  • Patent number: 6891058
    Abstract: Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are extremely low in color (and thus permit use without the concomitant necessity of adding large amounts of other coloring agents to combat such discoloring), and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Xiaodong E. Zhao, Todd D. Danielson, Mary E. Mason, Daniel M. Connor, Eric B. Stephens, Jason D. Sprinkle, Jusong Xia
  • Publication number: 20040214934
    Abstract: Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are low in color (and thus permit use without the concomitant necessity of adding large amounts of other coloring agents to combat such discoloring), and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mary E. Mason, Eric B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6703443
    Abstract: A new and useful nonaqueous liquid pigment dispersion is provided which is easy to handle and produces thorough and effective colorations within target media, particularly as compared to standard solid pigments or high-viscosity liquid pigment dispersions. More specifically, the present invention relates to liquid pigment dispersions possessing viscosities of at most 5,000 centipoise at standard temperature and pressure. Such a low viscosity is obtained through the addition of relatively low amounts of aprotic viscosity modifiers possessing dipole moments of at between about 1.0 and 5.0, alternatively measured in terms of a flash point between about −20° C. and 180°, such as, most preferably cyclic carbonates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mark E. Ragsdale, Eric B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6667392
    Abstract: This invention relates to colorants comprising a chromophore having a single azo acetoacetanilide moiety, wherein said moiety each have at least one poly(oxyalkylene) chain. Such colorants exhibit extremely good base stability and lightfastness, particularly when incoporated within certain media and/or on the surface of certain substrates. These poly(oxyalkylene) chains provide solubility in different solvents or resins thereby permitting the introduction of such excellent coloring chromophores within diverse media and/or or diverse substrates. Compositions and articles comprising such colorants are provided as are methods for producing such inventive colorants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Eric B. Stephens, Mary G. Mason, John W. Miley, Leonard J. Starks, Eugene K. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 6610876
    Abstract: A yellow colorant comprising a chromophore having at least one poly(oxy-C2-C4-alkylene) chain attached to an aromatic methine backbone having at least one cyanoester moiety attached thereto is provided. The ester portion must include a C1-C8 (such as ethyl, butyl, hexyl, or ethyl-hexyl) pendant group and the poly(oxyalkylene) chain must be at most 10 monomers and at least 3 monomers, with ethylene oxide as the capping group. Such a specific group of coloring agents provides the best overall yellow colorations or effects (either alone or in blends with other coloring agents, particularly at low color loadings) as well as the best overall low extraction levels when present within clear polyester (such as polyethylene terephthalate, for example), when compared to all other known polymeric yellow colorants for the same end-use. Compositions and articles comprising such colorants are provided as well as methods for producing such inventive colorants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Co.
    Inventor: Eric B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6607591
    Abstract: A new and useful nonaqueous liquid pigment dispersion is provided which is easy to handle and produces thorough and effective colorations within target media, particularly as compared to standard solid pigments or high-viscosity liquid pigment dispersions. More specifically, the present invention relates to liquid pigment dispersions possessing viscosities of at most 5,000 centipoise at standard temperature and pressure. Such a low viscosity is obtained through the addition of relatively low amounts of aprotic viscosity modifiers possessing dipole moments of at between about 1.0 and 5.0, alternatively measured in terms of a flash point between about −20° C. and 180°, such as, most preferably cyclic carbonates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mark E. Ragsdale, Eric B. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20030151027
    Abstract: Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are extremely low in color (and thus permit use without the concomitant necessity of adding large amounts of other coloring agents to combat such discoloring), and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Xiaodong E. Zhao, Todd D. Danielson, Mary E. Mason, Daniel M. Connor, Eric B. Stephens, Jason D. Sprinkle, Jusong Xia
  • Patent number: 6605126
    Abstract: New and useful low viscosity polymeric colorant formulations are provided comprising extremely low amounts of viscosity modifiers that drastically reduce the overall viscosity of the resultant colorant formulation as compared with the viscosity of the colorants themselves. In such a manner, the resultant formulation facilitates the utilization of such polymeric colorants within certain coloring processes and methods requiring low viscosity formulations while simultaneously permitting substantial retention of the same high color strength characteristics of the unmodified colorants. Such an unexpected result thus permits production and utilization of a low viscosity formulation that does not sacrifice colorability to an appreciable degree for target substrates or media. The inventive formulations thus comprise any number of polymeric colorants, (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Co.
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mark E. Ragsdale, Eric B. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20030149146
    Abstract: A yellow colorant comprising a chromophore having at least one poly(oxy-C2-C4-alkylene) chain attached to an aromatic methine backbone having at least one cyanoester moiety attached thereto is provided. The ester portion must include a C1-C8 (such as ethyl, butyl, hexyl, or ethyl-hexyl) pendant group and the poly(oxyalkylene) chain must be at most 10 monomers and at least 3 monomers, with ethylene oxide as the capping group. Such a specific group of coloring agents provides the best overall yellow colorations or effects (either alone or in blends with other coloring agents, particularly at low color loadings) as well as the best overall low extraction levels when present within clear polyester (such as polyethylene terephthalate, for example), when compared to all other known polymeric yellow colorants for the same end-use. Compositions and articles comprising such colorants are provided as well as methods for producing such inventive colorants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Eric B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6602447
    Abstract: Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are extremely low in color (and thus permit use without the concomitant necessity of adding large amounts of other coloring agents to combat such discoloring), and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Todd D. Danielson, Xiaodong E. Zhao, Mary E. Mason, Daniel M. Connor, Eric B. Stephens, Jason D. Sprinkle, Jusong Xia
  • Publication number: 20030139526
    Abstract: A new and useful nonaqueous liquid pigment dispersion is provided which is easy to handle and produces thorough and effective colorations within target media, particularly as compared to standard solid pigments or high-viscosity liquid pigment dispersions. More specifically, the present invention relates to liquid pigment dispersions possessing viscosities of at most 5,000 centipoise at standard temperature and pressure. Such a low viscosity is obtained through the addition of relatively low amounts of aprotic viscosity modifiers possessing dipole moments of at between about 1.0 and 5.0, alternatively measured in terms of a flash point between about −20° C. and 180°, such as, most preferably cyclic carbonates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mark E. Ragsdale, Eric B. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20030136949
    Abstract: Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are extremely low in color (and thus permit use without the concomitant necessity of adding large amounts of other coloring agents to combat such discoloring), and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Todd D. Danielson, Xiaodong E. Zhao, Mary E. Mason, Daniel M. Connor, Eric B. Stephens, Jason D. Sprinkle, Jusong Xia
  • Patent number: 6583308
    Abstract: A yellow colorant comprising a chromophore having at least one poly(oxy-C2-C4-alkylene) chain attached to an aromatic methine backbone having at least one cyanoester moiety attached thereto is provided. The ester portion must include a C1-C8 (such as ethyl, butyl, hexyl, or ethyl-hexyl) pendant group and the poly(oxyalkylene) chain must be at most 10 monomers and at least 3 monomers, with ethylene oxide as the capping group. Such a specific group of coloring agents provides the best overall yellow colorations or effects (either alone or in blends with other coloring agents, particularly at low color loadings) as well as the best overall low extraction levels when present within clear polyester (such as polyethylene terephthalate, for example), when compared to all other known polymeric yellow colorants for the same end-use. Compositions and articles comprising such colorants are provided as well as methods for producing such inventive colorants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Eric B. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20030100640
    Abstract: A yellow colorant comprising a chromophore having at least one poly(oxy-C2-C4-alkylene) chain attached to an aromatic methine backbone having at least one cyanoester moiety attached thereto is provided. The ester portion must include a C1-C8 (such as ethyl, butyl, hexyl, or ethyl-hexyl) pendant group and the poly(oxyalkylene) chain must be at most 10 monomers and at least 3 monomers, with ethylene oxide as the capping group. Such a specific group of coloring agents provides the best overall yellow colorations or effects (either alone or in blends with other coloring agents, particularly at low color loadings) as well as the best overall low extraction levels when present within clear polyester (such as polyethylene terephthalate, for example), when compared to all other known polymeric yellow colorants for the same end-use. Compositions and articles comprising such colorants are provided as well as methods for producing such inventive colorants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Eric B. Stephens