Patents by Inventor Lee Hill

Lee Hill 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: 20250059709
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pulp product (e.g., paper) comprising cellulose and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is derived from the cellulose in a mechanical and/or chemical step that is separate from the main pulping process. The pulping process may be thermomechanical pulping or hydrothermal-mechanical pulping, for example. The pulp product is stronger and smoother with the presence of the nanocellulose. The nanocellulose further can function as a retention aid, for a step of forming the pulp product (e.g., in a paper machine). Other embodiments provide a corrugated medium pulp composition comprising cellulose pulp and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose includes cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals and the nanocellulose may be hydrophobic. The nanocellulose improves the strength properties of the corrugated medium. In some embodiments, the cellulose pulp is a GreenBox+® pulp and the nanocellulose is derived from the AVAP® process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Theodora RETSINA, Kimberly NELSON, Lee HILL, Vesa PYLKKANEN, Timothy J. GALLIFORD
  • Publication number: 20250043508
    Abstract: In some variations, OCC is screened, cleaned, deinked, and mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The OCC may be subjected to further chemical, physical, or thermal processing, prior to mechanical refining. For example, the OCC may be subjected to hot-water extraction, or fractionation with an acid catalyst, a solvent for lignin, and water. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanocrystals, OCC is exposed to AVAP® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is optionally bleached and is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanocrystals. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanofibrils, OCC is exposed to GreenBox+® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The site of a system to convert OCC to nanocellulose may be co-located with an existing OCC processing site. The nanocellulose line may be a bolt-on retrofit system to existing infrastructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Kimberly NELSON, Theodora RETSINA, Lee HILL
  • Patent number: 12077915
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pulp product (e.g., paper) comprising cellulose and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is derived from the cellulose in a mechanical and/or chemical step that is separate from the main pulping process. The pulping process may be thermomechanical pulping or hydrothermal-mechanical pulping, for example. The pulp product is stronger and smoother with the presence of the nanocellulose. The nanocellulose further can function as a retention aid, for a step of forming the pulp product (e.g., in a paper machine). Other embodiments provide a corrugated medium pulp composition comprising cellulose pulp and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose includes cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals and the nanocellulose may be hydrophobic. The nanocellulose improves the strength properties of the corrugated medium. In some embodiments, the cellulose pulp is a GreenBox+® pulp and the nanocellulose is derived from the AVAP® process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: GranBio Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Kimberly Nelson, Lee Hill, Vesa Pylkkanen, Timothy J. Galliford
  • Patent number: 12018432
    Abstract: In some variations, OCC is screened, cleaned, deinked, and mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The OCC may be subjected to further chemical, physical, or thermal processing, prior to mechanical refining. For example, the OCC may be subjected to hot-water extraction, or fractionation with an acid catalyst, a solvent for lignin, and water. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanocrystals, OCC is exposed to AVAP® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is optionally bleached and is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanocrystals. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanofibrils, OCC is exposed to GreenBox+® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The site of a system to convert OCC to nanocellulose may be co-located with an existing OCC processing site. The nanocellulose line may be a bolt-on retrofit system to existing infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: GranBio Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Nelson, Theodora Retsina, Lee Hill
  • Publication number: 20230002972
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pulp product (e.g., paper) comprising cellulose and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is derived from the cellulose in a mechanical and/or chemical step that is separate from the main pulping process. The pulping process may be thermomechanical pulping or hydrothermal-mechanical pulping, for example. The pulp product is stronger and smoother with the presence of the nanocellulose. The nanocellulose further can function as a retention aid, for a step of forming the pulp product (e.g., in a paper machine). Other embodiments provide a corrugated medium pulp composition comprising cellulose pulp and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose includes cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals and the nanocellulose may be hydrophobic. The nanocellulose improves the strength properties of the corrugated medium. In some embodiments, the cellulose pulp is a GreenBox+® pulp and the nanocellulose is derived from the AVAP® process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Theodora RETSINA, Kimberly NELSON, Lee HILL, Vesa PYLKKANEN, Timothy J. GALLIFORD
  • Patent number: 11359334
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pulp product (e.g., paper) comprising cellulose and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is derived from the cellulose in a mechanical and/or chemical step that is separate from the main pulping process. The pulping process may be thermomechanical pulping or hydrothermal-mechanical pulping, for example. The pulp product is stronger and smoother with the presence of the nanocellulose. The nanocellulose further can function as a retention aid, for a step of forming the pulp product (e.g., in a paper machine). Other embodiments provide a corrugated medium pulp composition comprising cellulose pulp and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose includes cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals and the nanocellulose may be hydrophobic. The nanocellulose improves the strength properties of the corrugated medium. In some embodiments, the cellulose pulp is a GreenBox+® pulp and the nanocellulose is derived from the AVAP® process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GranBio Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Kimberly Nelson, Lee Hill, Vesa Pylkkanen, Timothy J. Galliford
  • Publication number: 20210148048
    Abstract: In some variations, OCC is screened, cleaned, deinked, and mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The OCC may be subjected to further chemical, physical, or thermal processing, prior to mechanical refining. For example, the OCC may be subjected to hot-water extraction, or fractionation with an acid catalyst, a solvent for lignin, and water. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanocrystals, OCC is exposed to AVAP® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is optionally bleached and is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanocrystals. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanofibrils, OCC is exposed to GreenBox+® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The site of a system to convert OCC to nanocellulose may be co-located with an existing OCC processing site. The nanocellulose line may be a bolt-on retrofit system to existing infrastructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Kimberly NELSON, Theodora RETSINA, Lee HILL
  • Patent number: 10753042
    Abstract: In some variations, OCC is screened, cleaned, deinked, and mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The OCC may be subjected to further chemical, physical, or thermal processing, prior to mechanical refining. For example, the OCC may be subjected to hot-water extraction, or fractionation with an acid catalyst, a solvent for lignin, and water. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanocrystals, OCC is exposed to AVAP® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is optionally bleached and is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanocrystals. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanofibrils, OCC is exposed to GreenBox+® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The site of a system to convert OCC to nanocellulose may be co-located with an existing OCC processing site. The nanocellulose line may be a bolt-on retrofit system to existing infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: GranBio Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Nelson, Theodora Retsina, Lee Hill
  • Publication number: 20200109516
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pulp product (e.g., paper) comprising cellulose and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is derived from the cellulose in a mechanical and/or chemical step that is separate from the main pulping process. The pulping process may be thermomechanical pulping or hydrothermal-mechanical pulping, for example. The pulp product is stronger and smoother with the presence of the nanocellulose. The nanocellulose further can function as a retention aid, for a step of forming the pulp product (e.g., in a paper machine). Other embodiments provide a corrugated medium pulp composition comprising cellulose pulp and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose includes cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals and the nanocellulose may be hydrophobic. The nanocellulose improves the strength properties of the corrugated medium. In some embodiments, the cellulose pulp is a GreenBox+® pulp and the nanocellulose is derived from the AVAP® process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Theodora RETSINA, Kimberly NELSON, Lee HILL, Vesa PYLKKANEN, Timothy J. GALLIFORD
  • Patent number: 10435841
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pulp product (e.g., paper) comprising cellulose and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is derived from the cellulose in a mechanical and/or chemical step that is separate from the main pulping process. The pulping process may be thermomechanical pulping or hydrothermal-mechanical pulping, for example. The pulp product is stronger and smoother with the presence of the nanocellulose. The nanocellulose further can function as a retention aid, for a step of forming the pulp product (e.g., in a paper machine). Other embodiments provide a corrugated medium pulp composition comprising cellulose pulp and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose includes cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals and the nanocellulose may be hydrophobic. The nanocellulose improves the strength properties of the corrugated medium. In some embodiments, the cellulose pulp is a GreenBox+® pulp and the nanocellulose is derived from the AVAP® process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GranBio Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Kimberly Nelson, Lee Hill, Vesa Pylkkanen, Timothy J. Galliford
  • Publication number: 20170370047
    Abstract: In some variations, OCC is screened, cleaned, deinked, and mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The OCC may be subjected to further chemical, physical, or thermal processing, prior to mechanical refining. For example, the OCC may be subjected to hot-water extraction, or fractionation with an acid catalyst, a solvent for lignin, and water. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanocrystals, OCC is exposed to AVAP® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is optionally bleached and is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanocrystals. In certain embodiments to produce cellulose nanofibrils, OCC is exposed to GreenBox+® digestor conditions. The resulting pulp is mechanically refined to generate cellulose nanofibrils. The site of a system to convert OCC to nanocellulose may be co-located with an existing OCC processing site. The nanocellulose line may be a bolt-on retrofit system to existing infrastructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Kimberly NELSON, Theodora RETSINA, Lee HILL
  • Publication number: 20170328003
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pulp product (e.g., paper) comprising cellulose and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is derived from the cellulose in a mechanical and/or chemical step that is separate from the main pulping process. The pulping process may be thermomechanical pulping or hydrothermal-mechanical pulping, for example. The pulp product is stronger and smoother with the presence of the nanocellulose. The nanocellulose further can function as a retention aid, for a step of forming the pulp product (e.g., in a paper machine). Other embodiments provide a corrugated medium pulp composition comprising cellulose pulp and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose includes cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals and the nanocellulose may be hydrophobic. The nanocellulose improves the strength properties of the corrugated medium. In some embodiments, the cellulose pulp is a GreenBox+® pulp and the nanocellulose is derived from the AVAP® process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Theodora RETSINA, Kimberly NELSON, Lee HILL, Vesa PYLKKANEN, Timothy J. GALLIFORD
  • Publication number: 20160071138
    Abstract: A system and method is presented in which a mobile customer base is incentivized to reposition inventory in rental article-dispensing machine served areas. By utilizing the systems and methods presented herein, an effective increase in the utilization of existing inventory is realized thus making for an overall more efficient system. In part, the system and method entails providing incentive to a mobile customer base through the real time generation of alternative rental contracts during user interface interactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Lee HILL
  • Publication number: 20140358492
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to indentify a modification to a utility grid, and to derive a first model of the utility grid and a second model of the utility grid. The second model of the utility grid includes a modification of the first model of the utility grid. The processor is configured to compare the first model of the utility grid to the second model of the utility grid, and to derive a difference between the first model of the utility grid and the second model of the utility grid based at least in part on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Stanislawski, Enrique Cano Carballar, Lee Hill, Glenda Paulette Simons
  • Publication number: 20140239157
    Abstract: This invention relates to a low light imaging sensors and particularly image intensification and CMOS sensors. To overcome issues of dazzle and halo when operating in areas where the scene encompasses bright light sources, the invention provides material layers in contact with the detector material to spatially limit the generation or subsequent diffusion of electrons in said detector material. This allows the imaging sensor to perform as normal under bright conditions, maintaining the operator's scene awareness and spatial acuity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher David Burgess, Lee Hill
  • Publication number: 20050130633
    Abstract: Methods for controlling usage of a mobile terminal are provided. A usage specification including an identification of allowed numbers, an identification of restricted numbers, a usage time limitation, an expiration value and/or a specification of enabled services of the mobile terminal that are restricted is received. Usage of the mobile terminal is limited based on the received usage specification responsive to receipt of a valid authorization code. The authorization code and/or the usage specification may be received from a keypad and/or input screen of the mobile terminal. Alternatively, the authorization code and/or the usage specification are received from a remote user over a wireless communication connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Lee Hill, Debra Stephens
  • Patent number: 4429460
    Abstract: A pair of pliers for cutting different sized wires, including crossing levers pivoted on a bolt extending through a hole and a slot of the levers, and a compression coil spring that urges the jaws of the two levers to be spread apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Lee Hill
    Inventors: Lee Hill, George Spector