Patents by Inventor Fuming B. Li

Fuming B. Li 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).

  • Publication number: 20240009606
    Abstract: Described herein is the use of a cyclotriphosphazene core substituted with at least three amino-cyclic carbon groups used as a charge-enhancing additive in a thermoplastic resin. Such compositions may be used in filtering applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Kelly A. Volp, Nathan E. Schultz, Daniel C. Duan, Seth M. Kirk, Fuming B. Li, John M. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20230390678
    Abstract: Described herein is a thermoplastic core-sheath fiber. The thermoplastic core-sheath fiber comprises a core having a coextensive sheath layer disposed thereon, wherein the core comprises a first polymeric resin and an electrostatic charge enhancing additive, and the sheath layer comprising a second polymeric resin, with the proviso that if the second polymeric resin comprises poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), then the second polymeric resin does not comprise 100 wt % of poly(4-methyl-1-pentene). These thermoplastic core-sheath fibers can be used in filtering applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Nathan E. Schultz, Zackary J. Becker, Daniel C. Duan, Himanshu Jasuja, Seth M. Kirk, Fuming B. Li, John M. Sebastian, Georgiy Teverovskiy
  • Publication number: 20230285884
    Abstract: Electret webs include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additive is a substituted- or unsubstituted benzoate salt. The substituted benzoate salts are substituted by a hydroxyl group. The substituted-benzoate salt may have a divalent metal countercation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Fuming B. Li, John M. Brandner, Richard C. Webb, Siwei Leng, Nathan E. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11749769
    Abstract: A light redirecting film includes a first layer disposed on a second layer with structured major surfaces of the first and second layers facing each other. An optically reflective layer or a metal layer is disposed between the first and second layers. The first layer can be a hot melt adhesive layer and the second layer can be a polymeric layer. The first and second layers can be unitary layers. The first layer can be a first polymeric layer having a softening temperature T1 and the second layer can be a second polymeric layer having a softening temperature T2 greater than T1. Heating and/or applying pressure to the film changes an optical characteristic of the film by less than about 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Vivian W. Jones, Gary E. Gaides, Stephen A. Johnson, Nathaniel I. Lehn, Jiaying Ma, Adam T. Ringberg, Tianyu Wu, Fuming B. Li
  • Publication number: 20230095033
    Abstract: Charged polymeric webs, such as electret webs, include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The additives are substituted heterocyclic thiolate salts. The heterocyclic thiolate salt has 2 nitrogen groups and a third group that may be an NH, N—NH2, O, or S group. The substituent group is an aromatic or heterocyclic aromatic group. The electret webs may be a non-woven fibrous web or a film. The electret webs are suitable for use as filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Fuming B. Li, Duane D. Fansler, Anthony F. Schultz, John M. Brandner, Nathan E. Schultz, John M. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20230067250
    Abstract: Charged polymeric webs, such as electret webs, include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The additives are substituted heterocyclic thiols. The heterocyclic thiol has 2 nitrogen groups and a third group that may be an NH, N-NH2, O, or S group. The substituent group is an aromatic or heterocyclic aromatic group. The electret webs may be a non-woven fibrous web or a film. The electret webs are suitable for use as filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Fuming B. Li, John M. Brandner, Nathan E. Schultz, John M. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20230006085
    Abstract: A light redirecting film includes a first layer disposed on a second layer with structured major surfaces of the first and second layers facing each other. An optically reflective layer or a metal layer is disposed between the first and second layers. The first layer can be a hot melt adhesive layer and the second layer can be a polymeric layer. The first and second layers can be unitary layers. The first layer can be a first polymeric layer having a softening temperature T1 and the second layer can be a second polymeric layer having a softening temperature T2 greater than T1. Heating and/or applying pressure to the film changes an optical characteristic of the film by less than about 5%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Vivian W. Jones, Gary E. Gaides, Stephen A. Johnson, Nathaniel I. Lehn, Jiaying Ma, Adam T. Ringberg, Tianyu Wu, Fuming B. Li
  • Publication number: 20220410045
    Abstract: Charged polymeric webs, such as electret webs, include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The additives are a mercapto-benzothiazole salts or mercapto-benzoxazole salts. The electret webs may be a non-woven fibrous web or a film. The electret webs are suitable for use as filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Fuming B. Li, Anthony F. Schultz, Duane D. Fansler, John M. Brandner, Nathan E. Schultz, John M. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20220401862
    Abstract: Charged polymeric webs, such as electret webs, include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The additives are substituted benzothiazole compounds or substituted benzoxazole compounds. The substituent groups may be hydroxyl, mercapto, or aromatic groups. The electret webs may be a non-woven fibrous web or a film. The electret webs are suitable for use as filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Fuming B. Li, John M. Brandner, Nathan E. Schultz, John M. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20220396684
    Abstract: Charged polymeric webs, such as electret webs, include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additive is a substituted-benzimidazole compound. The electret webs may be a non-woven fibrous web or a film. The electret webs are suitable for use as filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Fuming B. Li, Nathan E. Schultz, John M. Brandner, John M. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20220380574
    Abstract: Charged polymeric webs, such as electret webs, include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additive is a dual-function charge-enhancing additive that enhances the charge of the electret and also has anti-microbial properties. The additives are substituted-benzimidazole or substituted-benzothiazole compounds. The electret webs may be a non-woven fibrous web or a film. The electret webs are suitable for use as filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Fuming B. Li, Nathan E. Schultz, John M. Brandner
  • Publication number: 20220372666
    Abstract: A thermoplastic core-sheath fiber comprises: a polymer fiber core having a coextensive sheath layer disposed thereon, and an electrostatic charge enhancing additive. The sheath layer may comprise poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) and the fiber core and the sheath layer have different compositions. At least one of the fiber core or the sheath layer comprises an electret charge. A nonwoven fibrous web comprising the core-sheath fibers and a respirator including the nonwoven fibrous web are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan E. Schultz, Daniel C. Duan, Seth M. Kirk, Michael R. Berrigan, Zackary J. Becker, Fuming B. Li, John M. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20220323890
    Abstract: A filter assembly comprises an air filter medium and a prefilter medium. The prefilter medium comprises a second nonwoven fibrous web comprising poly(4-methylpentene) and an electrostatic charging additive and has a second electret charge. The filter assembly is configured such that air passing through the prefilter is directed through the air filter medium. A respirator includes the filter assembly. A prefilter assembly comprises a third nonwoven fibrous web retained by a prefilter frame. The third nonwoven fibrous web comprises: core-sheath fiber comprising a fiber core having a poly(4-methylpentene) sheath layer disposed thereon; and an electrostatic charging additive, wherein the electrostatic charging additive is contained in at least one of the fiber core or the sheath layer. The third nonwoven fibrous web has a third electret charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan E. Schultz, Daniel C. Duan, Seth M. Kirk, Michael R. Berrigan, Zackary J. Becker, Fuming B. Li, John M. Sebastian
  • Patent number: 11452891
    Abstract: A pleated filter element comprising a pleated filter media comprising a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats with a pleat direction and with a plurality of upstream and downstream pleat tips and pleat valleys, wherein the pleated filter media comprises two corrugated edges and two noncorrugated edges. The first (second) corrugated edge of the pleated filter media comprises an edge dam of hardened adhesive that occupies the upstream and downstream pleat valleys at a location laterally inwardly proximate the first (second) corrugated edge and that extends along an entire longitudinal extent of the pleated filter media. The pleated filter media is a multilayer media comprising an organic polymeric nonwoven web, that exhibits a Percent Penetration of less than 5, laminated with a fiberglass prefilter layer that is disposed upstream of the primary filtration layer and that exhibits a Percent Penetration of greater than about 70.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John M. Sebastian, Christopher A. Hurley, Kenneth J. Krepel, Pierre Legare, Fuming B. Li, Paul A. Martinson, Bong Y. Yeom
  • Patent number: 11078419
    Abstract: A class of antioxidant compositions include benzotriazole phenolate salts with substituents either ortho to the phenol hydroxide group and/or para to the phenol hydroxide group can be prepared from substituted benzotriazole phenols. The ortho substituent group can be a simple hydrocarbon, alkoxy or amino group, or the ortho substituent group can be a linking group, linking the benzotriazole phenolate to another benzotriazole phenolate group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Nathan E. Schultz, Fuming B. Li, Kelly A. Volp, Mark McCormick
  • Patent number: 11053373
    Abstract: Polymeric compositions include at least one polymer that is free of ester linkages and an additive that is a benzotriazole phenolate salt with substituents either ortho to the phenol hydroxide group and/or para to the phenol hydroxide group. The substituted benzotriazole phenolate salts can be prepared from substituted benzotriazole phenols. The ortho substituent group can be a simple hydrocarbon, alkoxy, or amino group, or the ortho substituent group can be a linking group, linking the benzotriazole phenolate to another benzotriazole phenolate group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Nathan E. Schultz, Fuming B. Li, Kelly A. Volp, Mark McCormick
  • Patent number: 10919867
    Abstract: Benzotriazole phenols with substituents either ortho to the phenol hydroxyl group and/or para to the phenol hydroxyl group can be prepared from the unsubstituted benzotriazole phenol by coupling reactions. The ortho substituent group can be a simple alkoxy or amino group, or the ortho substituent group can be a linking group, linking the benzotriazole phenol to another benzotriazole phenol group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kelly A. Volp, Nathan E. Schultz, Fuming B. Li
  • Patent number: 10724171
    Abstract: Electret webs include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additive is a substituted benzotriazole phenolate salt or a combination of substituted benzotriazole phenolate salts. The electret webs may be a non-woven fibrous web or a film. The electret webs are suitable for use as filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Nathan E. Schultz, Fuming B. Li, Kelly A. Volp, John M. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20200172809
    Abstract: A class of antioxidant compositions include benzotriazole phenolate salts with substituents either ortho to the phenol hydroxide group and/or para to the phenol hydroxide group can be prepared from substituted benzotriazole phenols. The ortho substituent group can be a simple hydrocarbon, alkoxy or amino group, or the ortho substituent group can be a linking group, linking the benzotriazole phenolate to another benzotriazole phenolate group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan E. Schultz, Fuming B. Li, Kelly A. Volp, Mark McCormick
  • Patent number: 10669481
    Abstract: A class of antioxidant compositions include benzotriazole phenolate salts with substituents either ortho to the phenol hydroxide group and/or para to the phenol hydroxide group can be prepared from substituted benzotriazole phenols. The ortho substituent group can be a simple hydrocarbon, alkoxy or amino group, or the ortho substituent group can be a linking group, linking the benzotriazole phenolate to another benzotriazole phenolate group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Nathan E. Schultz, Fuming B. Li, Kelly A. Volp, Mark McCormick