Patents by Inventor Rainer Neeff

Rainer Neeff 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: 12017431
    Abstract: A glazing (10) comprising a switchable optical device (26) is proposed. The switchable optical device (26) has a layer structure comprising in this order a first substrate (12), a switchable layer (18) and a second substrate (24). Further, at least one of the first substrate (12) and the second substrate (24) is attached to a further sheet (30) by means of an adhesive tape (40) or an optically clear adhesive (48). Further aspects of the invention relate to a laminated structure and an insulated glazing unit comprising such a glazing (10) and a method for manufacturing of such a glazing (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Neeff, Michael Junge
  • Publication number: 20240140075
    Abstract: A window pane includes a transmission control layer including a first glass sheet, a second glass sheet, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet. Each of the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet has a thickness of about 1 mm or less. A first panel is bonded to the first glass sheet of the transmission control layer. A second panel is bonded to the second glass sheet of the transmission control layer. The transmission control layer is disposed between the first panel and the second panel. The liquid crystal material is controllable to adjust a transmittance of the window pane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: James Gregory Couillard, Lisa Lynn Griesbach Hawkins, James Martin Grochocinski, Rainer Neeff, Felix Fritz Rudolf-Schlosser
  • Patent number: 11872787
    Abstract: A window pane includes a transmission control layer including a first glass sheet, a second glass sheet, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet. Each of the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet has a thickness of about 1 mm or less. A first panel is bonded to the first glass sheet of the transmission control layer. A second panel is bonded to the second glass sheet of the transmission control layer. The transmission control layer is disposed between the first panel and the second panel. The liquid crystal material is controllable to adjust a transmittance of the window pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: CORNING INCORPORATED, MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: James Gregory Couillard, Lisa Lynn Griesbach Hawkins, James Martin Grochocinski, Rainer Neeff, Felix Fritz Rudolf-Schlosser
  • Patent number: 11762241
    Abstract: Devices for the regulation of light transmission and in particular switchable windows, including window elements containing a switchable optical cell having a homeotropically aligned liquid crystal layer with a pretilt angle in the range of 77° to 88°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Junge, Rainer Neeff
  • Publication number: 20220349246
    Abstract: A switchable optical device including in this order a first substrate, a first conductive layer, a switchable layer, a second conductive layer and a second substrate, which device further contains one or both of the following: i) the first conductive layer contains a first contact zone and a second contact zone, wherein the first contact zone is electrically insulated from the second contact zone and the switchable optical device contains an electrical interconnect for electrically connecting the second contact zone of the first conductive layer the second conductive layer, ii) the switchable optical device contains at least one further sheet which is laminated to the first substrate and/or the second substrate, wherein first substrate, second substrate and the at least one further sheet have essentially the same thermal expansion coefficient. A switchable glazing unit containing at least one glass pane and at least one switchable optical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Michael JUNGE, Michael UKELIS, Manfred ECKERT, Rainer NEEFF
  • Publication number: 20220055351
    Abstract: A glazing (10) comprising a switchable optical device (26) is proposed. The switchable optical device (26) has a layer structure comprising in this order a first substrate (12), a switchable layer (18) and a second substrate (24). Further, at least one of the first substrate (12) and the second substrate (24) is attached to a further sheet (30) by means of an adhesive tape (40) or an optically clear adhesive (48). Further aspects of the invention relate to a laminated structure and an insulated glazing unit comprising such a glazing (10) and a method for manufacturing of such a glazing (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer NEEFF, Michael JUNGE
  • Publication number: 20210181585
    Abstract: Devices for the regulation of light transmission and in particular switchable windows, including window elements containing a switchable optical cell having a homeotropically aligned liquid crystal layer with a pretilt angle in the range of 77° to 88°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Michael JUNGE, Rainer NEEFF
  • Publication number: 20190270284
    Abstract: A window pane includes a transmission control layer including a first glass sheet, a second glass sheet, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet. Each of the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet has a thickness of about 1 mm or less. A first panel is bonded to the first glass sheet of the transmission control layer. A second panel is bonded to the second glass sheet of the transmission control layer. The transmission control layer is disposed between the first panel and the second panel. The liquid crystal material is controllable to adjust a transmittance of the window pane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: James Gregory Couillard, Lisa Lynn Griesbach Hawkins, James Martin Grochocinski, Rainer Neeff, Felix Fritz Rudolf-Schlosser
  • Publication number: 20090315822
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an LCD display with an OLED backlight, which is characterized in that the OLED backlight has, alongside the areal region serving for backlighting the LCD display, one or a plurality of additional regions which can be switched independently of the areal region and which serve for representing information, and the use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Biebel, Rainer Neeff
  • Publication number: 20060153953
    Abstract: For production of a seamless edible cellulose tubing from underivatized cellulose, a solution of the underivatized cellulose in tertiary amine N-oxide, of additives and water, is extruded as tubing from an annular die and conducted through an air gap into a water bath. The cellulose tubing is conducted out of the water bath, cleaned by spraying with heated water and thereafter passed through at least two wash sections and a plasticizing section. After exit from the plasticizing section, the wet cellulose tubing is predried in the laid-flat state, before it is dried to its final moisture. The predryer 13 is arranged vertically or horizontally and consists of an insulated tube to which is fed air heated by a heat exchanger in an accurately metered amount and at a constant temperature of up to 130° C. The main dryer 19 is arranged horizontally and contains tangentially and radially directed air nozzles, the air jets of which keep the inflated cellulose tubing 20 suspended during the drying operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Herbert Gord, Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Rainer Neeff, Klaus Berghof, Markus Eilers, Eberhard Taeger
  • Publication number: 20050186309
    Abstract: The invention relates to tubular, edible food casings which include cellulose, at least one protein and at least one filler in which the ratio of the wet tear strength in the transverse direction to the wet tear strength in the longitudinal direction is from 1.3:1 to 1:3.5. The casing is gathered to form a shirred stick which is particularly suitable for processing on high-speed stuffing machines. The sticks can be deshirred and stuffed with sausage meat emulsion without difficulty on the stuffing horn. The sticks are particularly suitable in the production of cooked-meat sausages and scalded-emulsion sausages and frying sausages, especially small sausages in which the casing is co-consumed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Herbert Gord, Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Rainer Neeff, Klaus Berghof, Markus Eilers, Eberhard Taeger
  • Patent number: 6821591
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seamless tubular film on a cellulose base, being produced by extruding an aqueous cellulose N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide spinning solution. The maximum degree of roughness Rmax is from greater than 0.1 &mgr;m to 0.5 &mgr;m and an average degree of roughness Rm is from 0.005 to 0.014 &mgr;m. On the surface of the tubular film is formed in contact with an electrolyte an electrokinetic potential, the size of which depends on the pH value of the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Kalle GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Herbert Gord, Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Rainer Neeff, Klaus Berghof, Markus Eilers, Reinhard Maron
  • Patent number: 6797100
    Abstract: The invention relates to a film tube (10) based on cellulose which is produced by extruding an aqueous cellulose-N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) solution through a ring nozzle (21) onto a lining (3). The film tube (10) is manufactured by means of a vertically descending spinning in a spinning vat (12) in which a spinning bath (11) is located. The film tube (10) which is submerged in the spinning bath (11) passes through an air gap (9) between the underside of a nozzle block (7) and the upper surface of the spinning bath (11) and, internally, is pressurized, supported and slightly stretched in a transversal manner by compressed air. The film tube (10) is filled with an inner bath solution (31) via a supply tube (18). An idle roller (13) is situated near the bottom of the spinning vat (12) in order to guide the film tube (10) around and, afterwards, out of the spinning vat (12) in an upward sloping manner. The film tube is laid flat along a contact section (27) of the idle roller (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Kalle GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Herbert Gord, Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Helmut Sattler, Rainer Neeff
  • Publication number: 20040166209
    Abstract: The invention relates to an edible packaging film for foodstuffs, which contains cellulose, at least one protein and at least one filler. Bran, ground natural fibres, cotton linters, chitosan, guar meal, carob meal or micro-crystalline cellulose are preferably used as the fillers. The film is predominantly used to produce synthetic sausage casings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Herbert Gord, Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Rainer Neeff, Klaus Berghof, Markus Eilers, Eberhard Taeger, Horst Buerger
  • Publication number: 20040146668
    Abstract: A seamless cellulose-based tubular film is produced by extruding an aqueous N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) spinning solution through a ring die. The tubular film comprises at least one protein, at least one filler and, if appropriate, a stabilizer. The tubular film passes through a spinning bath 3 in which it is turned around and, after its exit from the spinning bath it passes through a wash device 25, 26, a plasticizing device 27 and a dryer 28.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Herbert Gord, Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Rainer Neeff, Klaus Berghof, Markus Eilers, Eberhard Taeger
  • Publication number: 20040130060
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing NMMO-water mixture which collects in the interior of a tubular film which is produced by the NMMO process comprises a spinning vat and a wash vat. Between the two vats is situated a conveyor belt which circulates endlessly over two rollers. The conveyor belt is directed upward at an incline from the spinning vat to the wash vat. The tubular film, in the interior of the spinning vat, is passed vertically downward, then reversed and conducted vertically out of the spinning vat and passes over the inclined conveyor belt into the wash vat. Above the conveyor belt is situated a spray device having spraying nozzles from which wash liquid at a temperature between 60 and 80° C. is sprayed onto the tubular film which is transported via the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Herbert Gord, Rainer Neeff, Klaus Berghof, Markus Eilers, Eberhard Taeger
  • Publication number: 20040091586
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cellulose-hydrate-containing seamless tubular food casing comprising at least one vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer and/or vinylpyrrolidone copolymer in admixture with the cellulose hydrate. The weight ratio of vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer and/or vinyl-pyrrolidone copolymer to cellulose is generally from 1:25 to 10:1. The casing can be reinforced with fibers, in particular with a hemp fiber paper. It is generally produced by the viscose process and has a low permeation and anti-mold properties. The casing is envisaged as artificial sausage casing, particularly suitable for dry or long-keeping sausage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Herbert Gord, Rainer Neeff
  • Publication number: 20030062649
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stick of a tubular food casing based on cellulose. The casing is produced by the NMMO process. The stick is particularly stable and is thus suited for automatic filling devices such as those used for producing cooked or boiled sausages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Herbert Gord, Rainer Neeff, Klaus Berghof, Markus Eilers, Reinhard Maron
  • Publication number: 20020064580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellulose-based food casing, manufactured with a spinning solution that comprises cellulose, N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide, water, at least one additive that modifies the surface properties of the casing and at least one other additive that modifies its internal structure. The surface-modifying additive is preferably a protein, a protein derivative, a mono-, di- and triglyceride, a diketene with long-chained alkyl radicals, a wax and/or a paraffin. The casing may also optionally contain a fleece insert, and preferably has a tubular shape. The inventive casing is particularly suited for use as a sausage casing. Nonreinforced casings of the present invention are particularly suited for use as peelable casings for the production of sausage, while the fiber-reinforced casings are particularly suited for dry sausage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Kalle GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Herbert Gord, Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Rainer Neeff, Klaus Berghof, Markus Eilers, Reinhard Maron
  • Publication number: 20020022100
    Abstract: The present invention that also possesses provides a method for producing a seamless tubular film based on cellulose comprising extruding an aqueous cellulose-N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) spinning solution through an annular die in a spinning bath, wherein the spinning solution forms the tubular film. The film is laterally drawn in an air gap between the annular die and the spinning bath by stabilizing air pressure in the tubular film. The level of hydrostatic pressure from an inner spinning solution formed inside the tubular film extends above the spinning bath, the inner spinning solution comprising an aqueous NMMO solution that supports and intensifies said lateral drawing. The tubular film that has been expanded by the lateral drawing process is passes by a turning point in the spinning bath, and directed out of the spinning bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Herbert Gord, Klaus-Dieter Hammer, Rainer Neeff, Klaus Berghof, Markus Eilers, Reinhard Maron