Patents by Inventor Mark E. Ragsdale

Mark E. Ragsdale 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: 20200032034
    Abstract: An amine compound comprises a nitrogen atom, a hydrogen atom directly bonded to the nitrogen atom, and two aromatic groups directly bonded to the nitrogen atom. At least one of the aromatic groups comprises at least one polymeric substituent bound thereto, the polymeric substituent comprising three or more monomers units. A method for producing a polyurethane polymer comprises the steps of (a) providing a polyol; (b) providing a polyisocyanate compound; (c) providing the amine compound described above; (d) combining the polyol, the polyisocyanate compound, and the amine compound to produce a reaction mixture; and (e) allowing the polyol and the polyisocyanate compound to react to produce a polyurethane polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Sanjeev K. Dey, Mark E. Ragsdale
  • Publication number: 20200031756
    Abstract: A phenol compound comprises a phenyl group, a hydroxy group directly bonded to the phenyl group, and at least one polymeric substituent bound to the phenyl group. The polymeric substituent comprises three or more monomers units. A method for producing a polyurethane polymer comprises the steps of (a) providing a polyol; (b) providing a polyisocyanate compound; (c) providing the phenol compound described above; (d) combining the polyol, the polyisocyanate compound, and the phenol compound to produce a reaction mixture; and (e) allowing the polyol and the polyisocyanate compound to react to produce a polyurethane polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Moon, Haihu Qin, Sharon A. Free, Mark E. Ragsdale, Michael Hong
  • Patent number: 7247658
    Abstract: Surprisingly effective additive formulations for the reduction of highly undesirable yellowing or other discoloration of white, uncolored, polyurethane foam articles are provided. White polyurethane foam exhibits a susceptibility to yellowing and discoloration to a great extent, particularly in relatively short periods of time, than other types of polymeric articles. The inventive additives impart excellent low-discoloration properties over appreciable amounts of time of regular exposure to harmful elements, thereby according the pertinent industry a manner of providing white polyurethane foams for longer periods of time. Methods of producing such reliably white-colored polyurethane foams are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Philip T. Radford
  • Patent number: 6794420
    Abstract: Polyurethane article black colorants which comprise a novel blue polymeric anthraquinone colorant, rather than the previous standard polymeric triphenylmethane blue-type colorants are provided. Such a novel blend of colorants to produce black colorations within the target polyurethane foams exhibits very low color degradation within polyurthane foams, primarily due to the stability and resiliency of the novel anthraquinone-based polymeric colorant in the presence of high isocyanate levels, as well as large amounts of reactive tertiary amines (from catalyst residue, for example). A black colorant comprising such a novel blue polymeric colorant, as well as polyurethane foams comprising such a novel black coloring agent and methods of producing such foams are all contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Jusong Xia, Sandy G. Belue
  • Patent number: 6703443
    Abstract: A new and useful nonaqueous liquid pigment dispersion is provided which is easy to handle and produces thorough and effective colorations within target media, particularly as compared to standard solid pigments or high-viscosity liquid pigment dispersions. More specifically, the present invention relates to liquid pigment dispersions possessing viscosities of at most 5,000 centipoise at standard temperature and pressure. Such a low viscosity is obtained through the addition of relatively low amounts of aprotic viscosity modifiers possessing dipole moments of at between about 1.0 and 5.0, alternatively measured in terms of a flash point between about −20° C. and 180°, such as, most preferably cyclic carbonates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mark E. Ragsdale, Eric B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6642283
    Abstract: Polyurethane article black colorants which comprise a novel blue polymeric anthraquinone colorant, rather than the previous standard polymeric triphenylmethane blue-type colorants are provided. Such a novel blend of colorants to produce black colorations within the target polyurethane foams exhibits very low color degradation within polyurethane foams, primarily due to the stability and resiliency of the novel anthraquinone-based polymeric colorant in the presence of high isocyanate levels, as well as large amounts of reactive tertiary amines (from catalyst residue, for example). A black colorant comprising such a novel blue polymeric colorant, as well as polyurethane foams comprising such a novel black coloring agent and methods of producing such foams are all contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Sandy G. Belue
  • Publication number: 20030195267
    Abstract: Polyurethane article black colorants which comprise a novel blue polymeric anthraquinone colorant, rather than the previous standard polymeric triphenylmethane blue-type colorants are provided. Such a novel blend of colorants to produce black colorations within the target polyurethane foams exhibits very low color degradation within polyurethane foams, primarily due to the stability and resiliency of the novel anthraquinone-based polymeric colorant in the presence of high isocyanate levels, as well as large amounts of reactive tertiary amines (from catalyst residue, for example). A black colorant comprising such a novel blue polymeric colorant, as well as polyurethane foams comprising such a novel black coloring agent and methods of producing such foams are all contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Jusong Xia, Sandy G. Belue
  • Patent number: 6627109
    Abstract: New, useful and surprisingly effective antiscorch compositions for utilization within polyurethane foam production methods which utilize very popular tertiary amine catalysts are provided. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the curing process) and release carboxylic acids into the curing formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit heat destabilization. The resultant foams exhibit extremely low, if no, areas of excessive heating (i.e., scorch) and thus are substantially uniformly colored throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Sandy G. Belue
  • Patent number: 6607591
    Abstract: A new and useful nonaqueous liquid pigment dispersion is provided which is easy to handle and produces thorough and effective colorations within target media, particularly as compared to standard solid pigments or high-viscosity liquid pigment dispersions. More specifically, the present invention relates to liquid pigment dispersions possessing viscosities of at most 5,000 centipoise at standard temperature and pressure. Such a low viscosity is obtained through the addition of relatively low amounts of aprotic viscosity modifiers possessing dipole moments of at between about 1.0 and 5.0, alternatively measured in terms of a flash point between about −20° C. and 180°, such as, most preferably cyclic carbonates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mark E. Ragsdale, Eric B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6605126
    Abstract: New and useful low viscosity polymeric colorant formulations are provided comprising extremely low amounts of viscosity modifiers that drastically reduce the overall viscosity of the resultant colorant formulation as compared with the viscosity of the colorants themselves. In such a manner, the resultant formulation facilitates the utilization of such polymeric colorants within certain coloring processes and methods requiring low viscosity formulations while simultaneously permitting substantial retention of the same high color strength characteristics of the unmodified colorants. Such an unexpected result thus permits production and utilization of a low viscosity formulation that does not sacrifice colorability to an appreciable degree for target substrates or media. The inventive formulations thus comprise any number of polymeric colorants, (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Co.
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mark E. Ragsdale, Eric B. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20030139526
    Abstract: A new and useful nonaqueous liquid pigment dispersion is provided which is easy to handle and produces thorough and effective colorations within target media, particularly as compared to standard solid pigments or high-viscosity liquid pigment dispersions. More specifically, the present invention relates to liquid pigment dispersions possessing viscosities of at most 5,000 centipoise at standard temperature and pressure. Such a low viscosity is obtained through the addition of relatively low amounts of aprotic viscosity modifiers possessing dipole moments of at between about 1.0 and 5.0, alternatively measured in terms of a flash point between about −20° C. and 180°, such as, most preferably cyclic carbonates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Jusong Xia, Mark E. Ragsdale, Eric B. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20030115690
    Abstract: Polyurethane article black colorants which comprise a novel blue polymeric anthraquinone colorant, rather than the previous standard polymeric triphenylmethane blue-type colorants are provided. Such a novel blend of colorants to produce black colorations within the target polyurethane foams exhibits very low color degradation within polyurethane foams, primarily due to the stability and resiliency of the novel anthraquinone-based polymeric colorant in the presence of high isocyanate levels, as well as large amounts of reactive tertiary amines (from catalyst residue, for example). A black colorant comprising such a novel blue polymeric colorant, as well as polyurethane foams comprising such a novel black coloring agent and methods of producing such foams are all contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Jusong Xiz, Sandy G Belue
  • Patent number: 6541532
    Abstract: New, useful and surprisingly effective antiscorch compositions for utilization within polyurethane foam production methods which utilize very popular tertiary amine catalysts are provided. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the curing process) and release carboxylic acids into the curing formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit heat destabilization. The resultant foams exhibit extremely low, if no, areas of excessive heating (i.e., scorch) and thus are substantially uniformly colored throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Sandy G. Belue
  • Patent number: 6541531
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved dosing assembly (valve/feed line/liquid collecting vessel) which permits nearly immediate response time to an actuator signal. Such an assembly is used for the controlled introduction of any liquid through a valve into a collecting vessel. In particular, the inventive assembly exhibits substantially no leakage from the feed line into the liquid collecting vessel when the valve is closed and an instantaneous introduction of the feed line liquid into the liquid collecting vessel upon opening of the valve, both when a liquid possessing a surface tension of about 50 dynes/cm2 is used as the measurement standard. This assembly is particularly and preferably suited for injecting colorants into reactants for the production of polyurethane slabstock foam and permits a substantial reduction in foam waste due to low colorations during an on/off cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Mark E. Ragsdale
  • Publication number: 20030050355
    Abstract: New, useful and surprisingly effective antiscorch compositions for utilization within polyurethane foam production methods which utilize very popular tertiary amine catalysts are provided. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the curing process) and release carboxylic acids into the curing formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit heat destabilization. The resultant foams exhibit extremely low, if no, areas of excessive heating (i.e., scorch) and thus are substantially uniformly colored throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Sandy G. Belue
  • Patent number: 6525108
    Abstract: New, useful and surprisingly effective antiscorch compositions for utilization within polyurethane foam production methods which utilize very popular tertiary amine catalysts are provided. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the curing process) and release carboxylic acids into the curing formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit heat destabilization. The resultant foams exhibit extremely low, if no, areas of excessive heating (i.e., scorch) and thus are substantially uniformly colored throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Sandy G. Belue
  • Patent number: 6395797
    Abstract: New, useful and surprisingly effective polymeric triphenylmethane colorant-containing compositions which exhibit very low color degradation within polyurethane foams. Generally during polyurethane foam production, certain amine-based hydroxyl-group containing catalysts deleteriously attack the nitrogen linking groups within triphenylmethane polymeric colorants. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the foaming procedure) and release carboxylic acids into the foaming formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit degradation of the TPM-based chromophore. The resultant foams exhibit substantially uniform color throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Sandy G. Belue
  • Publication number: 20020055548
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved dosing assembly (valve/feed line/liquid collecting vessel) which permits nearly immediate response time to an actuator signal. Such an assembly is used for the controlled introduction of any liquid through a valve into a collecting vessel. In particular, the inventive assembly exhibits substantially no leakage from the feed line into the liquid collecting vessel when the valve is closed and an instantaneous introduction of the feed line liquid into the liquid collecting vessel upon opening of the valve, both when a liquid possessing a surface tension of about 50 dynes/cm2 is used as the measurement standard. This assembly is particularly and preferably suited for injecting colorants into reactants for the production of polyurethane slabstock foam and permits a substantial reduction in foam waste due to low colorations during an on/off cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventor: Mark E. Ragsdale
  • Patent number: 6378734
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved dosing assembly (valve/feed line/liquid collecting vessel) which permits nearly immediate response time to an actuator signal. Such an assembly is used for the controlled introduction of any liquid through a valve into a collecting vessel. In particular, the inventive assembly exhibits substantially no leakage from the feed line into the liquid collecting vessel when the valve is closed and an instantaneous introduction of the feed line liquid into the liquid collecting vessel upon opening of the valve, both when a liquid possessing a surface tension of about 50 dynes/cm2 is used as the measurement standard. This assembly is particularly and preferably suited for injecting colorants into reactants for the production of polyurethane slabstock foam and permits a substantial reduction in foam waste due to low colorations during an on/off cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Mark E. Ragsdale
  • Publication number: 20020032247
    Abstract: New, useful and surprisingly effective antiscorch compositions for utilization within polyurethane foam production methods which utilize very popular tertiary amine catalysts are provided. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the curing process) and release carboxylic acids into the curing formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit heat destabilization. The resultant foams exhibit extremely low, if no, areas of excessive heating (i.e., scorch) and thus are substantially uniformly colored throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Mark E. Ragsdale, Sandy G. Belue