Patents by Inventor Steven P. Bitler
Steven P. Bitler 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).
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Publication number: 20160223409Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for indicating a temperature outside of a chosen range and the duration of time the temperature was outside that range. More specifically, it relates to the application of material to a label wherein temperatures above the material's melting point cause it to migrate on that label and indicate such temperatures were exceeded and, by the distance of that migration, the duration of time such temperatures were exceeded.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Robert Parker, Julian E. Shafer, Steven P Bitler
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Patent number: 9259598Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of crystalline polymers based on hydrophobic monomers, preferably on a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers which contains a crosslinking monomer, particularly side chain crystalline (SCC) polymers. The dispersions are useful for providing coatings on substrates, particularly on seeds (whose dormancy is thus extended) and on fibrous substrates, particularly human hair (which thus becomes heat-settable).Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Landec, Inc.Inventors: Ray F. Stewart, Natarajan Balachander, Steven P. Bitler, Loc Phan, Valentine Y. Yoon
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Publication number: 20150219505Abstract: A thermochromic indicator includes a coating on the substrate. The coating comprising a solid crystalline particles having a melting point of 0-130° C. At temperatures below the melting point, the coating is opaque. At temperatures above the melting point, the coating becomes translucent. The change in opacity can be reversible or irreversible.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: Landec CorporationInventors: Robert Parker, Julian E. Shafer, Steven P. Bitler
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Patent number: 8911861Abstract: A thermochromic indicator includes a coating on the substrate. The coating comprising a solid crystalline particles having a melting point of 0-130° C. At temperatures below the melting point, the coating is opaque. At temperatures above the melting point, the coating becomes translucent. The change in opacity can be reversible or irreversible.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2009Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Landec CorporationInventors: Robert Parker, Julian E. Schafer, Steven P. Bitler
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Publication number: 20140262262Abstract: This invention discloses articles, in the form of particles to small granules to macro sized objects, capable of the controlled release of active ingredients (AI) from a mixture as a solid solution, a matrix or an encapsulated system containing AI and one or more of polymers, additives and/or carriers. The invention also covers additional surface coatings on those articles to further reduce the rate of release of AI. Finally, methods for producing these articles and treating the oil field well and other segments of the oil industry, for example piping, storage tank, and refinery locations, are introduced. The claimed articles can be used as is or mixed with other oil filed components or system, for example proppant fluid, in oil field applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Landec CorporationInventors: Qiang Zheng, Damian Hajduk, Steven P. Bitler
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Publication number: 20100247900Abstract: A thermochromic indicator includes a coating on the substrate. The coating comprising a solid crystalline particles having a melting point of 0-130° C. At temperatures below the melting point, the coating is opaque. At temperatures above the melting point, the coating becomes translucent. The change in opacity can be reversible or irreversible.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventors: Robert Parker, Julian E. Schafer, Steven P. Bitler
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Publication number: 20090246155Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering personal care materials. Crystalline polymeric systems, referred to as CYC carriers, are associated with the cosmetic materials, through chemical bonding or through physical association. The crystallinity of the CYC carriers results from the presence of crystallizable side chains, for example long chain n-alkyl moieties, which results in relatively low and sharp melting temperatures. One class of CYC carriers, referred to as CYSC polymers, have a majority of the crystallizable side chains pendant from the polymer backbone. Another class of CYC carriers, referred to as ECC polymers, have a majority of the crystallizable side chains attached to terminal units of the polymer backbone. The ECC polymers can for example be obtained by modification of PLGA polymers. The CYC carriers in another class are non-polymeric.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Steven P. Bitler, Qiang Zheng, David Taft
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Patent number: 7449511Abstract: Thickeners for oil-containing compositions, particularly cosmetic and personal care compositions, are side chain crystalline polymers which are uniformly dispersed as a crystallized solid in the oil.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2005Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Landec Corp.Inventors: Steven P. Bitler, David D. Taft
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Patent number: 7291389Abstract: Articles, particularly fibers, whose shape is dependent on temperature. The articles have a first component composed of a sharply-melting crystalline polymer and an overlapping second component. As the crystalline polymer is cooled through its melting range, the volume of the first component increases much more rapidly than the volume of the second component. As a result, the shape of the article changes. Such fibers can be incorporated into fibrous articles having temperature-dependent thermal insulation properties.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2004Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Landec CorporationInventors: Steven P. Bitler, Edward E. Schmitt, Quiang Zheng
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Patent number: 7175832Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of crystalline polymers based on hydrophobic monomers, preferably on a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers which contains a crosslinking monomer, particularly side chain crystalline (SCC) polymers. The dispersions are useful for providing coatings on substrates, particularly on seeds (whose dormancy is thus extended) and on fibrous substrates, particularly human hair (which thus becomes heat-settable).Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Landec CorporationInventors: Ray F. Stewart, Natarajan Balachander, Steven P. Bitler, Loc Phan, Valentine Y. Yoon
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Patent number: 7101928Abstract: Novel thickeners for oil-containing compositions are crystalline polymers, preferably side chain crystalline polymers, which (a) have a crystalline melting point, Tp, and an onset of melting temperature, To, such that Tp?To is less than Tp0.7; (b) are soluble in the oil at temperatures above Tp, and (c) have been dispersed in the oil by a process which comprises (i)dissolving the polymer in the oil at a temperature above Tp, and (ii) cooling the solution from step (i) to crystallize the polymer in the oil.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Landec CorporationInventor: Steven P. Bitler
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Patent number: 6989417Abstract: Thickeners for oil-containing compositions, particularly cosmetic and personal care compositions, are side chain crystalline polymers which are uniformly dispersed as a crystallized solid in the oil.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 24, 2006Assignee: Landec CorporationInventors: Steven P. Bitler, David D. Taft
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Patent number: 6831116Abstract: Novel modifying agents contain a sharply-melting crystalline polymer ingredient, preferably a side chain crystalline (SCC) ingredient, and an active chemical ingredient. Such modifying agents, especially when in the form of particles, can be placed in contact with a matrix, will not modify the matrix below the crystalline melting point Tp, but will rapidly modify the matrix above Tp. The active chemical ingredient can react with the matrix, catalyze a reaction of the matrix, or inhibit a reaction of the matrix. Particularly useful compositions are polymer precursors which are storage-stable at low temperatures but which are rapidly converted to crosslinked resins when heated to temperatures above Tp, optionally in the presence of light.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2000Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: Landec CorporationInventors: Steven P. Bitler, Ray F. Stewart, Mark A. Wanthal, David A. Kamp, Paul A. Meyers, David D. Taft, Donald A. Schultz
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Publication number: 20030147946Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of crystalline polymers based on hydrophobic monomers, preferably on a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers which contains a crosslinking monomer, particularly side chain crystalline (SCC) polymers. The dispersions are useful for providing coatings on substrates, particularly on seeds (whose dormancy is thus extended) and on fibrous substrates, particularly human hair (which thus becomes heat-settable).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Ray F. Stewart, Natarajan Balachander, Steven P. Bitler, Loc Phan, Valentine Y. Yoon
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Patent number: 6544453Abstract: Shrinkage of cured resins is reduced by mixing the crosslinkable resin with a low profile additive (LPA). The LPA is in the form of particles which comprise an SCC polymer (or a similar crystalline polymer which melts over a narrow temperature range). The system is cured at a temperature above the melting point of the crystalline polymer (Tp), and the system and the LPA are such that at least part of the LPA remains as a separate phase in the curable resin at temperatures below Tp. It is believed that at least part of the crystalline polymer remains as a separate phase in the resin as it cures. Preferably at least part of the crystalline polymer forms a separate phase in the cured polymer after it has cooled.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Landec CorporationInventors: David D. Taft, Steven P. Bitler
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Patent number: 6540984Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of crystalline polymers based on hydrophobic monomers, preferably on a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers which contains a crosslinking monomer, particularly side chain crystalline (SCC) polymers. The dispersions are useful for providing coatings on substrates, particularly on seeds (whose dormancy is thus extended) and on fibrous substrates, particularly human hair (which thus becomes heat-settable).Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Landec CorporationInventors: Ray F. Stewart, Natarajan Balachander, Steven P. Bitler, Loc Phan, Valentine Y. Yoon
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Patent number: 6492462Abstract: The rheological properties of a crosslinkable resin system are modified by the presence of a side chain crystalline (SCC) polymer (or a similar crystalline polymer which melts over a narrow temperature range). The polymer dissolves in the curable system at temperatures above the melting point of the crystalline polymer (Tp), but when the system is then cooled to a temperature below Tp, at least partially forms a separate phase in the curable system. Below Tp, this separate phase substantially increases the viscosity of the curable system (i.e. makes it thicker than the same system without the crystalline polymer). This is particularly valuable for sheet molding composites (SMCs) in which the increase in viscosity makes the composites less tacky, and for dry film resists (DFRs). Above Tp, the curable system containing the dissolved crystalline polymer has a viscosity which is substantially less than its viscosity below Tp.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2000Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Landec CorporationInventors: Steven P. Bitler, David D. Taft, Ray F. Stewart
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Publication number: 20020038922Abstract: Shrinkage of cured resins is reduced by mixing the crosslinkable resin with a low profile additive (LPA). The LPA is in the form of particles which comprise an SCC polymer (or a similar crystalline polymer which melts over a narrow temperature range). The system is cured at a temperature above the melting point of the crystalline polymer (Tp), and the system and the LPA are such that at least part of the LPA remains as a separate phase in the curable resin at temperatures below Tp. It is believed that at least part of the crystalline polymer remains as a separate phase in the resin as it cures. Preferably at least part of the crystalline polymer forms a separate phase in the cured polymer after it has cooled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2000Publication date: April 4, 2002Inventors: David D. Taft, Steven P. Bitler
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Publication number: 20010018484Abstract: Thickeners for oil-containing compositions, particularly cosmetic and personal care compositions, are side chain crystalline polymers which are uniformly dispersed as a crystallized solid in the oil.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Inventors: Steven P. Bitler, David D. taft
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Publication number: 20010014310Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of crystalline polymers based on hydrophobic monomers, preferably on a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers which contains a crosslinking monomer, particularly side chain crystalline (SCC) polymers. The dispersions are useful for providing coatings on substrates, particularly on seeds (whose dormancy is thus extended) and on fibrous substrates, particularly human hair (which thus becomes heat-settable).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2001Publication date: August 16, 2001Inventors: Ray F. Stewart, Natarajan Balachander, Steven P. Bitler, Loc Phan, Valentine Y. Yoon