Patents by Inventor Jim Stephens

Jim 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).

  • Publication number: 20250109293
    Abstract: Coatings may be used to discourage agglomeration and dust formation when handling seeds. Aqueous emulsions suitable for coating seeds and other substrates may comprise an aqueous fluid, a wax, and a polymer blend comprising shellac, a film-forming polymer that is water-soluble or biodegradable, and, optionally, a plasticizer, in which the wax is emulsified as solids in the aqueous fluid and the polymer blend is at least partially dissolved in the aqueous fluid. Optionally, the aqueous emulsions may comprise at least one effect pigment and/or at least one crosslinking agent. The wax and/or the plasticizer may also be naturally sourced as well. Thin-film coatings upon seeds or other substrates may comprise the wax and the polymer blend, in which the shellac is distributed as a continuous phase in the thin-film coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: Michelman, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher MOST, Becky McCLOSKEY, Hong ZHANG, Qiaoqiao GAN, Jim STEPHENS, Ted PORTER, Tyler Alan REECE
  • Patent number: 10407586
    Abstract: Coated seeds and methods for reducing seed dust and increasing seed flowability are disclosed. The coated seeds include a seed and a coating composition. The coating composition includes a binder comprising an ethylene copolymer and a lubricant comprising a wax composition. In some embodiments, the ethylene copolymer includes an ethylene monomer and at least one comonomer. The comonomer is selected from acrylic acid, acetic acid, derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the wax comprises a Fischer-Tropsch wax, a carnauba wax, a polyethylene wax, a soy wax, a paraffin wax, a scale wax, a slack wax, or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Michelman, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Towell, Jim Stephens
  • Publication number: 20180030306
    Abstract: Coated seeds and methods for reducing seed dust and increasing seed flowability are disclosed. The coated seeds include a seed and a coating composition. The coating composition includes a binder comprising an ethylene copolymer and a lubricant comprising a wax composition. In some embodiments, the ethylene copolymer includes an ethylene monomer and at least one comonomer. The comonomer is selected from acrylic acid, acetic acid, derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the wax comprises a Fischer-Tropsch wax, a carnauba wax, a polyethylene wax, a soy wax, a paraffin wax, a scale wax, a slack wax, or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Michelman, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Towell, Jim Stephens