Patents by Inventor Robert J. Harper, Jr.

Robert J. Harper, Jr. 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: 4780102
    Abstract: Processes for dyeing, print-dyeing and differentially dyeing smooth-dry cellulose containing fabric are disclosed. Cellulose containing fabric is treated with a solution of crosslinking agent and a reactive additive which can be either polyethylene glycol or choline quaternary. The resultant fabric can then be dyed with a cellulosic dye. Print-dyeing is accomplished by selective application of a choline quaternary to a fabric padded crosslinking agent or by printing with a combination of crosslinking agent and choline quaternary on an untreated cellulosic fabric. These treatments are then followed by curing and dyeing. Differential dyeing is accomplished by first treating separate yarns with different solutions containing crosslinking agent with and without choline quaternary, drying, knitting, curing and dyeing the knitted fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4765796
    Abstract: Cellulosic fabric is dyed by affixing a hydroxymethyl phosphonium-nitrogen based polymer to the fabric and thereafter dyeing it with a cotton dye having anionic groups, in an acidic or neutral environment. In addition, a new method of affixing the polymer to the fabric is provided comprising contacting the fabric with a solution of urea and a precondensate of urea and tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Robert J. Harper, Jr., John V. Beninate
  • Patent number: 4743266
    Abstract: Process for producing smooth dry-cellulose containing fabrics with durable softness and dyeable properties are disclosed. Cellulose containing fabric is treated with a solution of crosslinking agent, acid catalyst and a longchain alkyl bishydroxyethyl quaternary amine salt additive. The resultant fabric is smooth-dry durably softened and can be dyed. Printdyeing is accomplished by selective application of the alkyl quaternary to a fabric padded with a crosslinking agent. This treatment is then followed by curing and dyeing. Differential dyeing is accomplished by first treating separate yarns with different solutions containing crosslinking agent with and without the alkyl quaternary, drying, knitting, curing and then dyeing the knitted fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4711640
    Abstract: Processes for producing multicolor crossdyed cellulosic fabrics which are fully or partly crosslinked are disclosed. These processes include: (1) crosslinking preselected areas of fabric with a grafted cationic group and leaving other areas untreated; immersing the fabric in an acidic anionic dyebath to dye the cationic areas and then immersing in a different colored, alkaline, unreactive dyestuff dyebath to dye the untreated areas and produce a bicolored fabric, (2) crosslinking fabric areas with a grafter cationic group and then the remaining areas with an anionic group; immersing in an acidic, anionic dyebath to dye the cationic areas and the immersing in a different colored cationic dyebath to dye the anionic areas and produce bicolored fabric, and (3) preselecting and treating areas of fabric to be cationic, anionic and untreated; immersion dyeing as above the cationic, untreated and then the anionic areas of fabric to produce a multicolored fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4629470
    Abstract: Processes for dyeing, print-dyeing and differentially dyeing smooth-dry cellulose containing fabric are disclosed. Cellulose containing fabric is treated with a solution of crosslinking agent and a reactive additive which can be either polyethylene glycol or choline quaternary. The resultant fabric can then be dyed with a cellulosic dye. Print-dyeing is accomplished by selective application of a choline quaternary to a fabric padded crosslinking agent or by printing with a combination of crosslinking agent and choline quaternary on an untreated cellulosic fabric. These treatments are then followed by curing and dyeing. Differential dyeing is accomplished by first treating separate yarns with different solutions containing crosslinking agent with and without choline quaternary, drying, knitting, curing and dyeing the knitted fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4618512
    Abstract: Synthetic-cellulosic blended fabric is padded with a solution of nitrogen rich N-methylol crosslinking agent, acid catalyst, antimony oxide and a halogen containing alcohol; dried at about 140.degree.-190.degree. F. and then cured at about 250.degree.-400.degree. F. for sufficient time to impart smooth-dry and flame retardant properties to the fabric. Aqueous polyethylene or silicone emulsion softeners can be added to the padding solution if desired. Dibromoneopentyl glycol makes an exemplary halogen containing alcohol. The process can be varied to first pad with antimony oxide, dry, and then repad with a solution of: nitrogen rich N-methylol crosslinking agent, acid catalyst, and a halogen containing alcohol, dry again and cure, at the above specified temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4536422
    Abstract: Fabric is padded with a solution of nitrogen rich N-methylol crosslinking agent, acid catalyst, antimony oxide and a halogen containing alcohol; dried at about 140.degree.-190.degree. F. and then cured at about 250.degree.-400.degree. F. for sufficient time to impart smooth-dry and flame retardant properties to said fabric. Aqueous polyethylene or silicone emulsion softeners can be added to the padding solution if desired. Glycol, polyol and dibromoneophentyl glycol make exemplary halogen containing alcohols. The process can also be varied to first pad with antimony oxide, dry, and then repad with a solution of: nitrogen rich N-methylol crosslinking agent, acid catalyst, and a halogen containing alcohol, dry again and cure, at the temperatures specified supra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4362527
    Abstract: A process for improving the radiation resistance of cellulosic fabrics is disclosed. Fabric is immersed first in a 23% caustic solution for 15 minutes and then in a 5% caustic solution for 15 minutes. The excess caustic is removed and the fabric padded to 105% wet-pickup using neutralized pentafluorobenzoic acid. The fabric is then cured at 130.degree.-140.degree. C. for 6-8 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4353707
    Abstract: A finishing agent for fabrics containing cellulose that is free of formaldehyde is prepared from equimolar amounts of methyl carbamate and glutaraldehyde. The reaction product, although unstable in dilute aqueous solution, can be applied to fabric from concentrated aqueous solution or can be methylated for application from dilute solution. Fabric is given wrinkle-resistance and durable-press properties with no release of formaldehyde from the agent or from the treated fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: John G. Frick, Jr., Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4304564
    Abstract: Cotton, or other fabric containing cellulose, is treated with acrylamide and a chemical initiator that promotes reaction of acrylamide with cellulose. The fabric, with bound acrylamide, is then treated with glyoxal and an acidic, metal salt catalyst to produce a fabric containing crosslinked cellulose. Thus, the fabric is given wrinkle resistance and durable-press properties by the treatment without using formaldehyde, free or combined, that could be released during treatment or from the treated fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: John G. Frick, Jr., Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4304565
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the heat transfer printing of cellulose-containing fabrics in garment form with disperse dyestuffs, wherein the fabric is treated only on one side by a printing or spraying technique with a formulation containing highly methylated melamine-formaldehyde crosslinking agent, acid catalyst, and other necessary additives. Fabrics with prints that are durable to washing are produced by simultaneously heat transfer printing and curing at about 190.degree. C. to 220.degree. C. for 20-30 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Eugene J. Blanchard, Gloria A. Gautreaux, Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4298747
    Abstract: New compounds in the class of .alpha.,.omega.-bis(4,5-dihydroxy-3-methyl-2-oxoimidazolidin-1-yl)alkanes have been prepared from the reaction of glyoxal and an alkylenebis(3-methylurea). These compounds are useful as formaldehyde-free finishing agents for textiles containing cellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: John G. Frick, Jr., Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4280812
    Abstract: Smolder resistance is imparted to cotton and cotton-containing fabrics by applying a certain boron-nitrogen-phosphorus system to the fabric, employing conventional equipment. An inorganic boron compound is placed in solution with a phosphorus-containing compound, then a nitrogen-containing compound is added. The aqueous mixture is applied using conventional textile equipment, dried, and cured by standard methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Darrell J. Donaldson, Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4236890
    Abstract: A pretreatment system composed of hexamethoxymethyl melamine, p-toluene sulfonic acid, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, triethylamine, butoxy triglycol, and carboxy vinyl polymeric thickener is disclosed, which through application to the fabric surface by a screen printing technique is highly effective in improving the affinity of cellulose-containing textiles for disperse dyestuffs. Fabrics with prints that are durable to washing are produced by simultaneously heat transfer printing and curing at about 190.degree. C. to 220.degree. C. for 20-30 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Eugene J. Blanchard, Gloria A. Gautreaux, Robert J. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4194032
    Abstract: Flame resistance sufficient to enable cellulose containing materials to pass modern flammability standards has been imparted to these materials by application of an aqueous solution containing a methylol phosphorus compound followed by heat drying to about 15% or less moisture content, and finally by polymerizing the phosphorus material in the cellulose containing material by any one of several indirect aqueous ammonia curing techniques. The invention provides an improved process for flame proofing cellulosic materials which avoids the use of ammonia gas during the cure and which results in little or no loss in tensile strength or in an undesirable change in hand. Cellulosic textiles treated by this process retain their flame resistant properties after repeated laundering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Robert J. Harper, Jr., Timothy A. Calamari, Jr., Sidney P. Schreiber
  • Patent number: 4170670
    Abstract: Cotton fabric and cotton-blended fabric which has been sensitized by treatments with methylol phosphorus compounds and heat-dried have been subjected to a "wet-transfer" technique which transfers a formaldehyde donor along with an aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution, thus providing an improved process for imparting flame retardance to fibrous cellulosic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Robert J. Harper, Jr., Timothy A. Calamari, Jr., Sidney P. Schreiber
  • Patent number: 4105403
    Abstract: To the surface of knitted cotton fabrics is applied from 20 to 90% wet add-on of crosslinking agent in a novel geometric pattern by any of several techniques including kiss-roll padding, printing, or transferring the solution of crosslinking agent from impregnated material to the surface of the knitted fabric, followed by drying and curing the moist textile at elevated temperatures, and finally by washing the cured fabric to effect differential shrinkage of the fabric in the applied design, which novel shrinkage in the fabric is fixed through the life of the fabric and is stable through subsequent launderings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Bethlehem K. Andrews, Robert J. Harper, Jr., Norton A. Cashen
  • Patent number: 3975154
    Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation and use of durable press fabrics with strong acid grafts. The preparation is accomplished by the incorporation of a reactive hydroxyalkyl sulfonic or phosphinic acid in a crosslinking finishing system. As a consequence of this, durable press fabrics are produced with sulfonic or phosphinic acid grafts. Because of these strong acid grafts, these fabrics show improved moisture regain properties, can be dyed with basic dyes, can be whitened with basic optical brighteners and have ion exchange properties for metallic cations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Robert J. Harper, Jr., Gloria A. Gautreaux, Joseph S. Bruno
  • Patent number: 3975152
    Abstract: This invention relates to fabric treatments by which cotton and cellulosic blended fabrics can be provided with wrinkle resistance (smooth dry performance) and color at the same time. In particular, it provides a means by which cellulosic fabrics can be dyed with basic dyestuffs. In addition to a conventional means by which the entire fabric can be dyed with a basic dye, variations are achieved in which one side of the fabric is dyed one color and the other side of the fabric is dyed a second color. The color on the reverse side can be provided by means of either basic dyes or regular cotton dyes. The technique has also been extended for the printing of fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Robert J. Harper, Jr., Joseph S. Bruno, Eugene J. Blanchard, Gloria A. Gautreaux
  • Patent number: 3960477
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing crossdyed cotton fabrics. For this purpose, by means of a chemical technique, procedures which permit the dyeing of selective yarns in a fabric have been developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Robert J. Harper, Jr., Eugene J. Blanchard, John T. Lofton, Gloria A. Gautreaux