Patents by Inventor Steven Luo

Steven Luo 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: 20130274430
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the steps of (i) providing conjugated diene monomer; (ii) charging a nickel-based catalyst system to the conjugated diene monomer; and (iii) charging a modulating Lewis base to the conjugated diene monomer, to thereby polymerize the conjugated diene monomer in the presence of the modulating Lewis base, where said step of charging a modulating Lewis base is separate from said step of charging a nickel-based catalyst, and where said steps of providing conjugated diene monomer, charging a nickel-based catalyst system and charging a Lewis base form a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
  • Patent number: 8541509
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a protected oxime compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Yuan-Yong Yan, Jason T. Poulton, Eiju Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8426609
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of preparing a reactive polymer and reacting the reactive polymer with an imide compound containing a protected amino group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Luo
  • Publication number: 20130096264
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (i) polymerizing monomer with a coordination catalyst to form a reactive polymer; and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a nitroso compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Steven Luo
  • Publication number: 20130079463
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (i) polymerizing monomers to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a protected polyhydrazone compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Joshua S. Dickstein, Dennis R. Brumbaugh
  • Patent number: 8399570
    Abstract: A tire component comprising a vulcanized residue of a functionalized polymer defined by the formula I where ? is a rubbery polymer chain, B is a boron atom, R1 is a bond or a divalent organic group, and each ? is independently selected from thioalkoxy groups (—SR), amino groups (—NR2), or phosphino groups (—PR2), where each R is independently selected from monovalent organic groups or two R groups form a divalent organic group, which forms a cyclic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Christine Rademacher, Steven Luo, Terrence E. Hogan
  • Patent number: 8389644
    Abstract: A functionalized polymer includes a directly bonded moiety, which can be located at a terminus of the polymer, defined by the formula —NH—NR1R2 where R1 and R2 independently are substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, or alkynyl groups, or together form a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, alkenylene, cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene, or arylene group. The functionalized polymer can be provided by reacting a living polymer with a hydrazone. Such polymers can be used in the production of compositions that include particulate fillers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corp.
    Inventors: Dennis R. Brumbaugh, Steven Luo, Christine Rademacher, Yuan-Yong Yan
  • Patent number: 8362156
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of preparing a reactive polymer and reacting the reactive polymer with a heterocyclic nitrile compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Ryouji Tanaka, Kouichirou Tani
  • Patent number: 8344066
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing monomer with a coordination catalyst to form a reactive polymer; and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a nitrile compound containing a protected amino group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Eiju Suzuki, Dennis R. Brumbaugh
  • Patent number: 8338544
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of polymerizing monomer to form a reactive polymer, and reacting the reactive polymer with a protected polyoxime compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Luo
  • Publication number: 20120309906
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of preparing a reactive polymer, and reacting the reactive polymer with a halosilane compound containing an amino group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Terrence E. Hogan, Steven Luo, Yoichi Ozawa, Matsushita Junko, Nakagawa Ryuji, Suzuki Eiju, Ken Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8324329
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (a) polymerizing monomer in the presence of a coordination catalyst to form a polymer, (b) inhibiting said step of polymerizing with a Lewis base, and (c) reacting the polymer with a functionalizing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Timothy L. Tartamella, Mark W. Smale, Randhir Shetty
  • Publication number: 20120296041
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (i) polymerizing monomer with an anionic initiator to form a reactive polymer; and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a nitrile compound containing a protected amino group, where the protected amino group is directly attached to a moiety selected from the group consisting of acyclic moieties, heterocyclic moieties, and non-aromatic cyclic moieties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Steven Luo
  • Patent number: 8314189
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of preparing a reactive polymer and reacting the reactive polymer with a heterocyclic nitrile compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Ryouji Tanaka, Kouichirou Tani
  • Publication number: 20120252979
    Abstract: Blends of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and rubbery elastomers are prepared by a process that comprises polymerizing 1,3-butadiene monomer into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene within a rubber cement of an elastomeric terpolymer by using a chromium-based, molybdenum-based, or iron-based catalyst composition. Polymer composition comprising the blend with improved properties is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Christine Rademacher, Steven Luo, Zhong-Ren Chen, Walter Tomaszewski, Edward Kelley
  • Patent number: 8268933
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a polyimine compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Yuan-Young Yan
  • Patent number: 8258332
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of preparing a reactive polymer, and reacting the reactive polymer with a halosilane compound containing an amino group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Terrence E. Hogan, Steven Luo, Yoichi Ozawa, Junko Matsushita, Ryuji Nakagawa, Eiju Suzuki, Ken Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8236892
    Abstract: A functionalized polymer includes a polymer chain and a terminal functionality that includes at least one disilylamino group. The polymer can be the reaction product of a terminally active polymer chain and a compound that includes at least one disilylamino group and a group capable of reacting with terminally active polymers. Methods for making and using such polymers also are provided, as are compositions containing the polymer and one or more types of filler particles as well as vulcanizates provided from such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Yoichi Ozawa, Jason Poulton, Dennis R Brumbaugh, Michael W. Hayes
  • Publication number: 20120184677
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing monomer with a coordination catalyst to form a reactive polymer; and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a carboxylic or thiocarboxylic ester containing a silylated amino group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Steven Luo
  • Publication number: 20120172553
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing takes place within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, and where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system that includes the combination of or reaction product of ingredients including (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an aluminoxane, (c) an organoaluminum compound other than an aluminoxane, and (d) a bromine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of elemental bromine, bromine-containing mixed halogens, and organic bromides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Jason T. Poulton