Patents by Inventor Lawrence D. Leech

Lawrence D. Leech 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: 8586677
    Abstract: Blended fluoropolymer compositions that, in one exemplary application, may be applied as a coating to a substrate and, optionally, may be applied to a substrate that has been previously coated with a primer or basecoat and/or a midcoat. In one embodiment, the composition is a blend of at least one high molecular weight trace modified polytetrafluoroethyelene (TMHPTFE) and at least one melt-processible fluoropolymer (MPF). After being applied to the substrate, optionally over a primer or basecoat and/or midcoat, and then cured, the present compositions form coatings that demonstrate improved abrasion resistance and/or improved release characteristics and/or increased translucency/transparency and/or improved impermeability. The present compositions may also be used to produce films having a high degree of clarity and impermeability. The present compositions in powder form may be melt or paste extruded to form articles with improved impermeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Whitford Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard W. Harvey, Helen L. Brain, Susan J. Roberts-Bleming, Lawrence D. Leech, Thomas J. Bate
  • Publication number: 20130022740
    Abstract: Blended fluoropolymer compositions that, in one exemplary application, may be applied as a coating to a substrate and, optionally, may be applied to a substrate that has been previously coated with a primer or basecoat and/or a midcoat. In one embodiment, the composition is a blend of at least one high molecular weight trace modified polytetrafluoroethyelene (TMHPTFE) and at least one melt-processible fluoropolymer (MPF). After being applied to the substrate, optionally over a primer or basecoat and/or midcoat, and then cured, the present compositions form coatings that demonstrate improved abrasion resistance and/or improved release characteristics and/or increased translucency/transparency and/or improved impermeability. The present compositions may also be used to produce films having a high degree of clarity and impermeability. The present compositions in powder form may be melt or paste extruded to form articles with improved impermeability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: WHITFORD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leonard W. Harvey, Helen L. Brain, Susan J. Roberts-Bleming, Lawrence D. Leech, Thomas J. Bate
  • Patent number: 8349434
    Abstract: A fluoropolymer coating composition that may be applied over a primer and/or at least one midcoat in a non-stick coating system. The coating composition may be prepared and applied in the form of a liquid dispersion, and includes at least one fluoropolymer base component, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and, in particular, at least one high molecular weight PTFE (HPTFE). The coating composition additionally includes a blended fluoropolymer composition. The blended fluoropolymer composition is a blend of at least one low molecular weight PTFE (LPTFE) and at least one melt-processible fluoropolymer. After application directly to a substrate or over an underlying coating, the coating demonstrates improved abrasion and scratch resistance, as well as improved release characteristics, as compared to known coatings that include only HPTFE or HPTFE with a small amount of melt processible fluoropolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Whitford Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard W. Harvey, Lawrence D. Leech
  • Patent number: 8227548
    Abstract: A fluoropolymer coating composition that may be applied over a primer and/or at least one midcoat in a non-stick coating system. The coating composition may be prepared and applied in the form of a liquid dispersion, and includes at least one fluoropolymer base component, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and, in particular, at least one high molecular weight PTFE (HPTFE). The coating composition additionally includes a blended fluoropolymer composition. The blended fluoropolymer composition is a blend of at least one low molecular weight PTFE (LPTFE) and at least one melt-processible fluoropolymer. After application directly to a substrate or over an underlying coating, the coating demonstrates improved abrasion and scratch resistance, as well as improved release characteristics, as compared to known coatings that include only HPTFE or HPTFE with a small amount of melt processible fluoropolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Whitford Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard W. Harvey, Lawrence D. Leech
  • Publication number: 20120165458
    Abstract: A fluoropolymer coating composition that may be applied over a primer and/or at least one midcoat in a non-stick coating system. The coating composition may be prepared and applied in the form of a liquid dispersion, and includes at least one fluoropolymer base component, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and, in particular, at least one high molecular weight PTFE (HPTFE). The coating composition additionally includes a blended fluoropolymer composition. The blended fluoropolymer composition is a blend of at least one low molecular weight PTFE (LPTFE) and at least one melt-processible fluoropolymer. After application directly to a substrate or over an underlying coating, the coating demonstrates improved abrasion and scratch resistance, as well as improved release characteristics, as compared to known coatings that include only HPTFE or HPTFE with a small amount of melt processible fluoropolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: WHITFORD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leonard W. Harvey, Lawrence D. Leech
  • Publication number: 20110287251
    Abstract: A fluoropolymer coating that includes nanoparticles for providing the coating with improved release characteristics together with improved abrasion resistance. In one embodiment, the nanoparticles are silica particles that may be incorporated into the coating by adding colloidal silica to the liquid coating formulation that is applied to a substrate, typically over a primer, and then cured. After the coating is cured, the coating demonstrates enhanced release characteristics together with improved abrasion resistance. It has been unexpectedly observed that a combination of desired release characteristics and improved abrasion resistance is found when the average particle size of the nanoparticles is between 30 and 120 nm, with the abrasion resistance generally increasing with increasing particle size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: WHITFORD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Leech, Daniel C. Chung
  • Publication number: 20100080955
    Abstract: A fluoropolymer coating composition that may be applied over a primer and/or at least one midcoat in a non-stick coating system. The coating composition may be prepared and applied in the form of a liquid dispersion, and includes at least one fluoropolymer base component, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and, in particular, at least one high molecular weight PTFE (HPTFE). The coating composition additionally includes a blended fluoropolymer composition. The blended fluoropolymer composition is a blend of at least one low molecular weight PTFE (LPTFE) and at least one melt-processible fluoropolymer. After application directly to a substrate or over an underlying coating, the coating demonstrates improved abrasion and scratch resistance, as well as improved release characteristics, as compared to known coatings that include only HPTFE or HPTFE with a small amount of melt processible fluoropolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: WHITFORD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leonard W. Harvey, Lawrence D. Leech
  • Patent number: 7026036
    Abstract: Single coat coating systems (22), as well as articles coated with such non-stick coating systems, are provided. The single coat system includes a fluoropolymer copolymer (14a), such as fluoropolymer terpolymer including tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride monomers, with fluoropolymer copolymers are referred to collectively as THV. The single coat system exhibits excellent substrates adhesion and release properties, is resistant to separation failure at the interface between the binder (12) and fluoropolymer components (14a), and exhibits adhesion to smooth substrates (16). The single coat system may also include a high level of fillers to provide increased damage resistance without compromising the above benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Whitford Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Leech, Daniel C. Chung, Michael W. Miller
  • Patent number: 6846570
    Abstract: Multiple coat non-stick coating systems, as well as articles coated with such non-stick coating systems, are provided. The primer (22a) of the multiple coat system includes a fluoropolymer (14a) copolymer, such as a fluoropolymer terpolymer including tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride monomers, which fluoropolymer copolymers are referred to collectively as THV. The multiple coat system exhibits excellent substrate adhesion and release properties, and the primer exhibits excellent primer-substrate adhesion and primer-topcoat adhesion. The multiple coat system is additionally resistant to separation failure at the interface between the binder (12) and fluoropolymer components of the primer, exhibits excellent adhesion to smooth substrates (16), and may also include a high level of fillers to provide increased damage resistance without compromising the above benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Whitford Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Leech, Daniel C. Chung, Michael W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030044619
    Abstract: Single coat coating systems (22), as well as articles coated with such non-stick coating systems, are provided. The single coat system includes a fluoropolymer copolymer (14a), such as a fluoropolymer terpolymer including tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride monomers, which fluoropolymer copolymers are referred to collectively as THV. The single coat system exhibits excellent substrate adhesion and release properties, is resistant to separation failure at the interface between the binder (12) and fluoropolymer components (14a), and exhibits excellent adhesion to smooth substrates (16). The single coat system may also include a high level of fillers to provide increased damage resistance without compromising the above benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Leech, Daniel C. Chung, Michael W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20020150778
    Abstract: Multiple coat non-stick coating systems, as well as articles coated with such non-stick coating systems, are provided. The primer (22a) of the multiple coat system includes a fluoropolymer (14a) copolymer, such as a fluoropolymer terpolymer including tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride monomers, which fluoropolymer copolymers are referred to collectively as THV. The multiple coat system exhibits excellent substrate adhesion and release properties, and the primer exhibits excellent primer-substrate adhesion and primer-topcoat adhesion. The multiple coat system is additionally resistant to separation failure at the interface between the binder (12) and fluoropolymer components of the primer, exhibits excellent adhesion to smooth substrates (16) and may also include a high level of fillers to provide increased damage resistance without compromising the above benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Leech, Daniel C. Chung, Michael W. Miller
  • Patent number: 5560978
    Abstract: A basecoat for a nonstick coating system wherein the basecoat comprises a high temperature binder resin, preferably polyamideimide resin, and a filamentary powder, preferably a nickel powder, which is combined with the high temperature binder to yield a spongelike coating which with appropriate application has a rough surface and an internal structure containing interlocking channels. These channels may be impregnated by subsequently applied coatings, especially nonstick fluoropolymer coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Whitford Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Leech
  • Patent number: 5468798
    Abstract: A basecoat for a nonstick coating system wherein the basecoat comprises a high temperature binder resin, preferably polyamideimide resin, and a filamentary powder, preferably a nickel powder, which is combined with the high temperature binder to yield a spongelike coating which with appropriate application has a rough surface and an internal structure containing interlocking channels. These channels may be impregnated by subsequently applied coatings, especially nonstick fluoropolymer coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Whitford Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Leech