Patents by Inventor Frederick L. Travelute

Frederick L. Travelute 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: 7229688
    Abstract: A self-texturing hollow fiber that exhibits a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig-zag. In one embodiment the invention is a hollow polymer filament having a generally cylindrical cross-section. The filament is further defined by a cylindrical wall formed of at least two generally C-shaped sections, each section including first and second ends separated by an intermediate portion in which no two points along the cross-section of the wall corresponding to the intermediate portion share the same width. In another aspect, the invention is a coiled bilateral hollow polymeric filament in which the two component polymers are identical except for their degree of orientation. The filament is further defined by a non-linear wall formed of at least two non-linear sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Travelute, Evan T. Basalik
  • Patent number: 7001664
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing self-texturing hollow fiber that exhibits a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig-zag. In one embodiment the invention is a spinneret for the production of hollow filament having first and second curved slots where each slot is defined by a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width and where the first and second ends are separated by an intermediate portion possessing a non-uniform width. In another embodiment the invention is a method for of producing generally cylindrical hollow filaments comprising extruding a polymer melt through a spinneret having first and second curved slots where each slot has a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width and where the first and second ends are separated by a intermediate portion possessing a non-uniform width along the continuum defined by the distance between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Travelute, Evan T. Basalik
  • Patent number: 6797209
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing self-texturing hollow fiber that exhibits a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig-zag. In one embodiment the invention is a spinneret for the production of hollow filament having first and second curved slots where each slot is defined by a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width and where the first and second ends are separated by an intermediate portion possessing a non-uniform width. In another embodiment the invention is a method for of producing generally cylindrical hollow filaments comprising extruding a polymer melt through a spinneret having first and second curved slots where each slot has a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width and where the first and second ends are separated by a intermediate portion possessing a non-uniform width along the continuum defined by the distance between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Travelute, Evan T. Basalik
  • Patent number: 6746230
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing self-texturing hollow fiber that exhibits a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig-zag. In one embodiment the invention is a spinneret for the production of hollow filament having first and second curved slots where each slot is defined by a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width and where the first and second ends are separated by an intermediate portion possessing a non-uniform width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Travelute, Evan T. Basalik
  • Publication number: 20040077246
    Abstract: A hollow polyester filament is disclosed that has sufficient openings therein for the hollow filament to substantially fill with water. The polyester filament has a moisture absorption capability of between about 10 and 30 percent by volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Travelute, Stanley Kiser Hovis
  • Publication number: 20030118763
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing self-texturing hollow fiber that exhibits a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig-zag. In one embodiment the invention is a spinneret for the production of hollow filament having first and second curved slots where each slot is defined by a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width and where the first and second ends are separated by an intermediate portion possessing a non-uniform width. In another embodiment the invention is a method for of producing generally cylindrical hollow filaments comprising extruding a polymer melt through a spinneret having first and second curved slots where each slot has a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width and where the first and second ends are separated by a intermediate portion possessing a non-uniform width along the continuum defined by the distance between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Frederick L. Travelute, Evan T. Basalik
  • Publication number: 20020173209
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing self-texturing hollow fiber that exhibits a desirable tendency to coil rather than to bend sharply or zig-zag. In one embodiment the invention is a spinneret for the production of hollow filament having first and second curved slots where each slot is defined by a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width and where the first and second ends are separated by an intermediate portion possessing a non-uniform width. In another embodiment the invention is a method for of producing generally cylindrical hollow filaments comprising extruding a polymer melt through a spinneret having first and second curved slots where each slot has a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width and where the first and second ends are separated by a intermediate portion possessing a non-uniform width along the continuum defined by the distance between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Frederick L. Travelute, Evan T. Basalik
  • Patent number: 5601918
    Abstract: A process for producing industrial denier filaments of a thermoplastic polymer at higher rates of production than those using liquid quenching media is disclosed. Liquid polymer is extruded in the form of hollow filaments at a throughput and rate of take up that produces individual filaments of greater than about 30 denier. A flow of gas is then directed at the liquid filaments at a flow rate and temperature that are sufficient to quench and solidify the individual filaments in the absence of any other quenching fluid. The filaments formed by the disclosed process have larger diameters than solid filaments of the same denier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Travelute, Robert E. Hoffman, Mendel L. Poston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5593629
    Abstract: A process for producing industrial denier filaments of a thermoplastic polymer at higher rates of production than those using liquid quenching media is disclosed. Liquid polymer is extruded in the form of hollow filaments at a throughput and rate of take up that produces individual filaments of greater than about 30 denier. A flow of gas is then directed at the liquid filaments at a flow rate and temperature that are sufficient to quench and solidify the individual filaments in the absence of any other quenching fluid. The filaments formed by the disclosed process have larger diameters than solid filaments of the same denier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Travelute, Robert E. Hoffman, Mendel L. Poston, Jr.