Patents by Inventor Kevin D. Lofftus

Kevin D. Lofftus 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: 20220204783
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate with a surface, a coating disposed over the surface, and a subtractive colorant which absorbs electromagnetic radiation according to a specified absorption spectrum. The coating includes a binder material and a plurality of porous polymer particles having pores with a distribution of pore sizes adapted to scatter electromagnetic radiation in one or more specified wavelength bands, wherein the porous polymer particles have a shell which is impermeable to a liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin D. Lofftus
  • Publication number: 20220195090
    Abstract: Impermeable porous particles include a porous polymer core, and a polymeric shell having a shell thickness of at least 5 nm. The impermeable porous particles have a median diameter of between 3 ?m and 200 ?m, and any pores in the polymeric shell have a diameter of less than 2 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lofftus, John Leonard Muehlbauer
  • Publication number: 20220195209
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate with a surface, and a coating disposed over the surface. The coating includes a binder material and a plurality of porous polymer particles having pores with a variety of pore sizes including a first set of pores having a first average pore size d1 in the range 0.3?d1/?1?0.7, wherein ?1 is a wavelength in the range of 250-400 nm, a second set of pores having a second average pore size d2 in the range 0.3?d2/?2?0.7, wherein ?2 is a wavelength in the range of 400-700 nm, and a third set of pores having a third average pore size d3 in the range 0.3?d3/?3?0.7, wherein ?3 is a wavelength in the range of 700-3000 nm, wherein the porous polymer particles have a shell which is impermeable to a liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin D. Lofftus
  • Publication number: 20220195138
    Abstract: A method for preparing core/shell particles includes forming a suspension of ethylenically unsaturated monomer droplets containing one or more monomers and a porogen in an aqueous medium containing a first stabilizer and a polymerization initiator, wherein at least one of the monomers is a cross-linking monomer, and wherein the first stabilizer is an inorganic colloid. The method further includes polymerizing the one or more monomers to form core/shell particles having a core of a porous polymer and a polymeric shell having a shell thickness of at least 5 nm, wherein any pores in the polymeric shell have a diameter of less than 2 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lofftus, John Leonard Muehlbauer
  • Publication number: 20220196880
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate with a surface, and a coating disposed over the surface. The coating includes a binder material and a plurality of UV scattering porous polymer particles having pores with a light scattering effective pore size of no more than 100 nm. The coating has a scattering opacity of no more than 20% in the wavelength band from 500 to 3000 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lofftus, John Muehlbauer
  • Patent number: 11118070
    Abstract: A low-specular-reflectance surface, includes a coating on a surface, wherein the coating includes a plurality of substantially spherical particles having a multimodal particle size distribution, wherein the particles protrude from a top surface of the coating to provide substantially spherical caps. The multimodal particle size distribution has two or more modes, each mode having a peak defining an associated mode particle size, wherein the distribution function includes a first mode having a first peak corresponding to a first particle size and a second mode having a second peak corresponding to a second particle size. A ratio of the second particle size to the first particle size is between 1.7-4.0. A smallest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 1.0 microns, and a largest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 3.0 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Kevin D. Lofftus
  • Patent number: 11079519
    Abstract: A light-blocking article is designed to be lightweight but effective to block most incident actinic radiation and can be designed into fabrics, curtains, and other materials. Such an article has an opacifying layer that is capable of blocking predetermined electromagnetic radiation. The article contains (a) porous particles comprising a continuous polymeric binder and pores within the continuous polymeric binder, the porous particles having a glass transition temperature of at least 25° C. and a mode particle size of at least 2 ?m and up to and including 50 ?m. The article also contains an opacifying colorant that absorbs the predetermined electromagnetic radiation (such as within 400 nm to 700 nm), in an amount of at least 0.001 weight % based on the total dry weight of the opacifying layer, and a matrix polymer in which the porous particles and opacifying colorant are dispersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lofftus, Mridula Nair, Mary Christine Brick
  • Patent number: 10793727
    Abstract: A low-specular-reflectance coating composition includes a binder, a solvent, and a plurality of substantially spherical particles having a multimodal particle size distribution. The multimodal particle size distribution has two or more modes, each mode having a peak defining an associated mode particle size, wherein the distribution function includes a first mode having a first peak corresponding to a first particle size, and a second mode having a second peak corresponding to a second particle size. A ratio of the second particle size to the first particle size is between 1.7-4.0. A smallest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 1.0 microns, and a largest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 3.0 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kevin D. Lofftus
  • Publication number: 20200199373
    Abstract: A low-specular-reflectance surface, includes a coating on a surface, wherein the coating includes a plurality of substantially spherical particles having a multimodal particle size distribution, wherein the particles protrude from a top surface of the coating to provide substantially spherical caps. The multimodal particle size distribution has two or more modes, each mode having a peak defining an associated mode particle size, wherein the distribution function includes a first mode having a first peak corresponding to a first particle size and a second mode having a second peak corresponding to a second particle size. A ratio of the second particle size to the first particle size is between 1.7-4.0. A smallest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 1.0 microns, and a largest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 3.0 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin D. Lofftus
  • Publication number: 20200199381
    Abstract: A low-specular-reflectance coating composition includes a binder, a solvent, and a plurality of substantially spherical particles having a multimodal particle size distribution. The multimodal particle size distribution has two or more modes, each mode having a peak defining an associated mode particle size, wherein the distribution function includes a first mode having a first peak corresponding to a first particle size, and a second mode having a second peak corresponding to a second particle size. A ratio of the second particle size to the first particle size is between 1.7-4.0. A smallest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 1.0 microns, and a largest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 3.0 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin D. Lofftus
  • Publication number: 20200199379
    Abstract: A method for making a low-specular-reflectance coating composition, includes providing a plurality of batches of substantially spherical particles including a first batch of particles having a first single mode particle size distribution with a peak corresponding to a first particle size, and a second batch of particles having a second single mode particle size distribution with a peak corresponding to a second particle size. A ratio of the second particle size to the first particle size is between 1.7-4.0. A binder and a solvent are provided and are combined with the plurality of batches of particles and mixed to form the low-specular-reflectance coating composition. A volume percent of the particles is between 2-30 volume percent, a volume percent of the binder is between 1-25 volume percent, and a volume percent of the solvent is between 45-97 volume percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin D. Lofftus
  • Publication number: 20180128946
    Abstract: A light-blocking article is designed to be lightweight but effective to block most incident actinic radiation and can be designed into fabrics, curtains, and other materials. Such an article has an opacifying layer that is capable of blocking predetermined electromagnetic radiation. The article contains (a) porous particles comprising a continuous polymeric binder and pores within the continuous polymeric binder, the porous particles having a glass transition temperature of at least 25° C. and a mode particle size of at least 2 ?m and up to and including 50 ?m. The article also contains an opacifying colorant that absorbs the predetermined electromagnetic radiation (such as within 400 nm to 700 nm), in an amount of at least 0.001 weight % based on the total dry weight of the opacifying layer, and a matrix polymer in which the porous particles and opacifying colorant are dispersed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lofftus, Mridula Nair, Mary Christine Brick
  • Patent number: 9958700
    Abstract: An optical modulator (12) for speckle suppression in a laser projection system includes a first planar transparent conductor (20); a second optionally transparent planar conductor (26); a diffusing element (22) disposed between the first and second conductor; and an alternating voltage applied across the first and second conductors creates in-plane movement or distortion in the diffusing element to reduce laser speckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lofftus, Paul James Kane, James Henry Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9891350
    Abstract: A light-blocking article is designed to be lightweight but effective to block most incident actinic radiation and can be designed into fabrics, curtains, and other materials. Such an article has an opacifying layer that is capable of blocking predetermined electromagnetic radiation. The article contains (a) porous particles comprising a continuous polymeric binder and pores within the continuous polymeric binder, the porous particles having a glass transition temperature of at least 25° C. and a mode particle size of at least 2 ?m and up to and including 50 ?m. The article also contains an opacifying colorant that absorbs the predetermined electromagnetic radiation (such as within 400 nm to 700 nm), in an amount of at least 0.001 weight % based on the total dry weight of the opacifying layer, and a matrix polymer in which the porous particles and opacifying colorant are dispersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lofftus, Mridula Nair, Mary Christine Brick
  • Publication number: 20170031172
    Abstract: An optical modulator (12) for speckle suppression in a laser projection system includes a first planar transparent conductor (20); a second optionally transparent planar conductor (26); a diffusing element (22) disposed between the first and second conductor; and an alternating voltage applied across the first and second conductors creates in-plane movement or distortion in the diffusing element to reduce laser speckle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lofftus, Paul James Kane, James Henry Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9393809
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method for printing on a non-porous media includes pre-coating a smooth non-porous media with toner resin particles in a half-tone pattern to create a patterned toner coated media; applying inkjet ink to said half-tone patterned toner coated media to provide an image on said half-tone patterned toner coated media; wherein a tone value of the half-tone pattern is a pre-determined function of an image-wise lay-down of the inkjet image generated by a data processing system; and fusing said image on said toner coated media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Kevin D. Lofftus
  • Patent number: 9323169
    Abstract: A color toner image with a metallic effect can be prepared by forming one or more latent images and developing them with metallic dry toner particles and color toner particles. The developed color toner image can be transferred to a receiver material, and fixed to provide a color toner image with a metallic effect. The metallic dry toner particles have a polymeric binder phase and non-conductive metal oxide particles dispersed therein. Before fixing, the metallic dry toner particle has a mean volume weighted diameter (Dvol) 15-40 ?m and the non-conductive metal oxide particles are present in an amount of at least 20-50 weight % based on total metallic dry toner particle weight. The ratio of the metallic dry toner particle Dvol to the average equivalent circular diameter (ECD) of the non-conductive metal oxide particles in the metallic dry toner particles is greater than 0.1 and up to and including 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Dinesh Tyagi, Kevin D. Lofftus, Louise Granica, Richard George Allen
  • Patent number: 9291570
    Abstract: An indicator composition can be used to detect various environmental conditions stimuli such as in sterilization or storage processes. This indicator composition has a) a first polymeric particle comprising a solid continuous polymeric phase and a first reactant, the first polymeric particle having a mode particle size equal to or less than 50 ?m; and b) a second reactant outside of the first polymeric particle, which second reactant is capable of reacting with the first reactant when exposed to a chosen environmental condition stimulus. The indicator composition can be used by exposing it to the environmental condition stimulus for a sufficient time to cause a detectable change in the indicator composition such as a detectable color change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Kevin D. Lofftus, Mary Christine Brick
  • Patent number: 9289528
    Abstract: An indicator composition can be exposed to various environmental conditions stimuli such as in sterilization or storage processes. This indicator composition has a) a first polymeric particle comprising a solid continuous polymeric phase and a first reactant, the first polymeric particle having a mode particle size equal to or less than 50 ?m; and b) a second reactant outside of the first polymeric particle, which second reactant is capable of reacting with the first reactant when exposed to a chosen environmental condition stimulus. The indicator composition can be used by exposing it to the environmental condition stimulus for a sufficient time to cause a detectable change in the indicator composition such as a detectable color change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Kevin D. Lofftus, Mary Christine Brick
  • Publication number: 20150375529
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method for printing on a non-porous media includes pre-coating a smooth non-porous media with toner resin particles in a half-tone pattern to create a patterned toner coated media; applying inkjet ink to said half-tone patterned toner coated media to provide an image on said half-tone patterned toner coated media; wherein a tone value of the half-tone pattern is a pre-determined function of an image-wise lay-down of the inkjet image generated by a data processing system; and fusing said image on said toner coated media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventor: KEVIN D. LOFFTUS