Patents by Inventor Robert A. Janssen

Robert A. Janssen 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: 7604856
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a unique heat transfer material for use in transferring a discontinuous coating onto a substrate, such as an article of clothing. The heat transfer material of the present invention may be used cold peel transfer processes, resulting in an image-bearing coating having superior crack resistance, washability, and breathability compared to conventional image-bearing coatings. Additionally, the materials may be used on dark colored fabrics without washed-out appearance typically associated with printing on darker fabrics. The heat transfer material of the present invention produces superior results due to the use of discontinuous coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Neenah Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Kronzer, Robert A. Janssen
  • Patent number: 7052642
    Abstract: A composition for forming an elastomeric article is disclosed. The composition includes an elastomeric material and a film leveler, where the film leveler is present in an amount of from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by mass of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Greg Triebes, Kermit R. Littleton, Robert A. Janssen, Roger Bradshaw Quincy, III
  • Patent number: 7041367
    Abstract: An elastomeric article includes a substrate body formed from an elastomeric material. The substrate body has a first surface, and a donning layer overlying at least a portion of the first surface. The donning layer is formed from a modified vinyl acetate polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Martin S. Shamis, William E. Conley, Maris Vistins, Sanford E. White, Kermit R. Littleton
  • Patent number: 7032251
    Abstract: Disclosed is an elastomeric article, such as a glove, and a process for making the elastomeric articles. The elastomeric articles include a primary matrix including one or more layers of elastomeric polymer, such as a natural or synthetic latex or a block copolymer, and a polymeric coating on a surface of the primary matrix. The polymeric coating is formed of crosslinked polymers which are crosslinked with a cationic crosslinking agent such as a polyamide epichlorohydrin crosslinking agent. The polymeric coating can be a crosslinked polyarcylate, polyacrylamide, or polysaccharise, for example. In one embodiment, the crosslinking agent crosslinks the polymeric coating to the primary matrix layer of the article, forming secure attachments between the primary matrix and the polymeric coating. In one embodiment, the crosslinking agent may crosslink the elastomeric polymer as well as the polymeric coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Janssen
  • Patent number: 6972148
    Abstract: An elastomeric article includes a substrate body formed from an elastomeric material, and a plurality of functionalized beads covalently bonded to the elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Janssen
  • Publication number: 20040258884
    Abstract: An elastomeric article includes a substrate body formed from an elastomeric material, and a plurality of functionalized beads covalently bonded to the elastomeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Janssen
  • Publication number: 20040253459
    Abstract: A composition for forming an elastomeric article is disclosed. The composition includes an elastomeric material and a film leveler, where the film leveler is present in an amount of from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by mass of the composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Greg Triebes, Kermit R. Littleton, Robert A. Janssen, Roger Bradshaw Quincy
  • Publication number: 20040247910
    Abstract: An elastomeric article includes a substrate body formed from an elastomeric material. The substrate body has a first surface, and a donning layer overlying at least a portion of the first surface. The donning layer is formed from a modified vinyl acetate polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Martin S. Shamis, William E. Conley, Maris Vistins, Sanford E. White, Kermit R. Littleton
  • Publication number: 20040245670
    Abstract: A method of forming an elastomeric article includes providing a former, coating the former with a coagulant composition including zinc stearate, dipping the former into a polymer composition including an elastomeric polymer and water, curing the elastomeric polymer at a temperature above the melting point of the zinc stearate, and removing the water from the polymer composition on the former to form the elastomeric article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Martin S. Shamis, William E. Conley, Sanford E. White
  • Patent number: 6805963
    Abstract: Disclosed is an elastomeric article, such as an elastomeric glove, for example, and a method for making the disclosed elastomeric article. The elastomeric article includes a fluorocarbon graft on the donning surface of the article. In addition, a hydrophilic lubricant including a modified siloxane displaying polar functionality may be applied to the surface of the article. In one embodiment, the modified siloxane may be an amino modified siloxane. The silicone lubricant and the fluorocarbon graft display a synergy, providing an article with improved dry slip characteristics and improved wet slip characteristics. In addition, a fatty alcohol may be applied to the surface of the article, further improving the damp slip characteristics of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Kermit R. Littleton, Thomas Gregory Triebes, Mary E. Kister, Shantilal H. Modha
  • Publication number: 20040115444
    Abstract: Disclosed is an elastomeric article, such as an elastomeric glove, for example, and a method for making the disclosed elastomeric article. The elastomeric article includes a fluorocarbon graft on the donning surface of the article. In addition, a hydrophilic lubricant including a modified siloxane displaying polar functionality may be applied to the surface of the article. In one embodiment, the modified siloxane may be an amino modified siloxane. The silicone lubricant and the fluorocarbon graft display a synergy, providing an article with improved dry slip characteristics and improved wet slip characteristics. In addition, a fatty alcohol may be applied to the surface of the article, further improving the damp slip characteristics of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Kermit R. Littleton, Thomas Gregory Triebes, Mary E. Kister, Shantilal H. Modha
  • Publication number: 20040107477
    Abstract: Disclosed is an elastomeric article, such as a glove, and a process for making the elastomeric articles. The elastomeric articles include a primary matrix including one or more layers of elastomeric polymer, such as a natural or synthetic latex or a block copolymer, and a polymeric coating on a surface of the primary matrix. The polymeric coating is formed of crosslinked polymers which are crosslinked with a cationic crosslinking agent such as a polyamide epichlorohydrin crosslinking agent. The polymeric coating can be a crosslinked polyarcylate, polyacrylamide, or polysaccharise, for example. In one embodiment, the crosslinking agent crosslinks the polymeric coating to the primary matrix layer of the article, forming secure attachments between the primary matrix and the polymeric coating. In one embodiment, the crosslinking agent may crosslink the elastomeric polymer as well as the polymeric coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Janssen
  • Patent number: 5824276
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for uniformly contacting an article with a treatment solution. Preferred embodiments are methods of uniformly tinting of contact lenses or uniformly surface modifying contact lenses. The method involves suspending the lens in the treatment solution by application of fluid flow, preferably sinusoidal or pulsed, in a direction opposite the stagnant force (i.e., sum of buoyancy and gravity forces) on the article. The fluid flow prevents the lens from contacting the container structure for periods sufficient to cause non-uniform treatment conditions, while continuously mixing the treatment solution to maintain uniform concentrations throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: CIBA Vision Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Barbara L. Heyl, Roger J. Hoffman, Thomas E. Shank
  • Patent number: 5805264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for modifying the surface characteristics of a preformed polymer substrate to impart altered properties thereto by graft polymerization on the substrate which includes: placing the polymer substrate in a plasma to form free radicals on the substrate; contacting the substrate having free radicals with oxygen to form hydroperoxy groups on the surface of the substrate; and graft polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer onto the surface of the polymer substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: CIBA Vision Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Ellen M. Ajello, Richard D. Auten, Glenn S. Nomura, Thomas E. Shank
  • Patent number: 5665420
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for uniformly contacting an article with a treatment solution. Preferred embodiments are methods of uniformly tinting of contact lenses or uniformly surface modifying contact lenses. The method involves suspending the lens in the treatment solution by application of fluid flow, preferably sinusoidal or pulsed, in a direction opposite the stagnant force (i.e., sum of buoyancy and gravity forces) on the article. The fluid flow prevents the lens from contacting the container structure for periods sufficient to cause non-uniform treatment conditions, while continuously mixing the treatment solution to maintain uniform concentrations throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Ciba Vision Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Barbara L. Heyl, Roger J. Hoffman, Thomas E. Shank
  • Patent number: 5480927
    Abstract: A method and composition useful in fabricating radiation-absorbing contact lenses, especially ultraviolet (UV) and visible (tint) light-absorbing lenses. The radiation-absorber is incorporated into a contact lens in the presence of a buffer which maintains the pH near neutral. Subsequently, the radiation-absorber is chemically affixed to the lens by raising the pH to a highly basic level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Ciba Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Charlotte L. Cooper, Deborah J. Mulcahy, Judy L. Peeples, Leslie F. Stebbins
  • Patent number: 5266077
    Abstract: A method of tinting an unhydrated contact lens involves the steps of providing an unhydrated contact lens; providing a dyestuff solution; providing a printing block comprising a hydrophilic polymer material containing a dye complexing agent capable of noncovalently bonding the dyestuff; placing the dyestuff solution onto the printing block; contacting the unhydrated contact lens and the printing block for a time sufficient to allow the dyestuff solution to diffuse to the lens; and removing the lens from the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Auten, Robert A. Janssen, Leslie F. Stebbins, Richard C. Turek
  • Patent number: 5174929
    Abstract: A dimensionally stable hydrogel contact lens of polyvinyl alcohol having an equilibrium water content of between about 70 to about 80 weight percent, based upon the total swollen lens weight, said lens having been annealed in a mold essentially conforming to the contact lens dimensions under substantially ambient non-drying setting conditions in the presence of an aqueous-organic annealing promoter solvent, for a period of time substantially sufficient to reach annealing equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Ping I. Lee, Ellen M. Ajello
  • Patent number: 4978481
    Abstract: A process for encapsulating a preformed polymeric substrate comprises peroxidizing and hydroperoxidizing the surface of said preformed substrate using ozone and then carrying out a crosslinked graft copolymerization of selected ethylenically unsaturated monomers both on and surrounding (encapsulating) said substrate. Such encapsulation of substrates provides protective coatings, ablative coatings and, particularly, soft skirts for hard contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Earl C. McCraw, Jr., Paul C. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 4968532
    Abstract: A process for modifying the surface characteristics of a preformed polymeric substrate to impart hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity or other desired properties thereto comprises peroxidizing and hydroperoxidizing the surface of said preformed substrate using ozone, directing the subsequent graft polymerization of selected ethylenically unsaturated monomers essentially solely to the surface of said substrate to achieve the desired alteration of substrate surface characteristics while maintaining substrate structural integrity. Substrates so modified are useful in biomedical devices, semipermeable membranes, films, fibers and especially contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Ellen M. Freeman, Earl C. McCraw, Jr.