Patents by Inventor Rhett C. SMITH

Rhett C. SMITH 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).

  • Free fatty acid-based composites
    Patent number: 12252664
    Abstract: An improved material, preferably a biomaterial, is provided which is the reaction product of S8 and a free fatty acid or free fatty acid-containing material, preferably in the presence of metal. The improved material can be made by a method comprising reacting S8 with a free fatty acid to obtain a FFA/S8 composite and shaping the FFA/S8 composite into a solid form. The solid form of said FFA/S8 is melted to form melted FFA/S8 and the melted FFA/S8 is optionally applied as a coating on a surface, used as an adjacent material to a surface or the FFA/S8 composite itself is shaped thereby forming a device and preferably a medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Clemson University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Andrew G. Tennyson, Rhett C. Smith
  • Covalently cross-linked lignocellulosic composites and applications thereof
    Patent number: 10899667
    Abstract: In one aspect, composite polymeric composition and related materials are described herein employing waste products from the agricultural and energy industries. Such composite polymeric compositions and materials can repurpose agricultural and petroleum waste products for various applications including, but not limited to, building and/or infrastructure materials. In some embodiments, a composite polymeric composition described herein comprises polysaccharides, lignin or combinations thereof covalently cross-linked via linkages comprising sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Rhett C. Smith, Andrew G. Tennyson
  • Free Fatty Acid-Based Composites
    Publication number: 20200190429
    Abstract: An improved material, preferably a biomaterial, is provided which is the reaction product of S8 and a free fatty acid or free fatty acid-containing material, preferably in the presence of metal. The improved material can be made by a method comprising reacting S8 with a free fatty acid to obtain a FFA/S8 composite and shaping the FFA/S8 composite into a solid form. The solid form of said FFA/S8 is melted to form melted FFA/S8 and the melted FFA/S8 is optionally applied as a coating on a surface, used as an adjacent material to a surface or the FFA/S8 composite itself is shaped thereby forming a device and preferably a medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew G. Tennyson, Rhett C. Smith
  • COVALENTLY CROSS-LINKED LIGNOCELLULOSIC COMPOSITES AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF
    Publication number: 20180354853
    Abstract: In one aspect, composite polymeric composition and related materials are described herein employing waste products from the agricultural and energy industries. Such composite polymeric compositions and materials can repurpose agricultural and petroleum waste products for various applications including, but not limited to, building and/or infrastructure materials. In some embodiments, a composite polymeric composition described herein comprises polysaccharides, lignin or combinations thereof covalently cross-linked via linkages comprising sulfur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Rhett C. SMITH, Andrew G. TENNYSON