Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Kauffman

Thomas F. Kauffman 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: 20240076532
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive composition that includes a styrenic block copolymer that includes greater than 55% by weight styrene based on the weight of the styrenic block copolymer, at least 15% by weight plasticizer, and from 30% by weight to 70% by weight of a tackifying agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Daniel A. Everson, Haiying zhou
  • Publication number: 20230272174
    Abstract: The invention features a hot melt composition in the form of a film including from 40% by weight to 80% by weight of a non-functionalized alkyl acrylate, from 14% by weight to 50% by weight of an olefin polymer, from 2% by weight to 15% by weight of a first functionalized polymer comprising a functional group selected from the group consisting of epoxides and carboxylic anhydrides, and from 2% by weight to 15% by weight of a second functionalized polymer comprising a functional group capable of reacting with the functional group of the first functionalized polymer. The hot melt composition in the form of a film has found utility as an encapsulant for thin film photovoltaic modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Luke A. Strzegowski, Jayesh G. Bokria, Thomas F. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 11667816
    Abstract: The invention features hot melt adhesive compositions including from 50% by weight to 95% by weight of a non-single site catalyzed amorphous poly alpha-olefin copolymer derived from propylene and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of butene and hexene and having a viscosity of no greater 10,000 cP at 190° C. and from 5% by weight to 45% by weight of a polybutene-1 polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: H.B. Fuller Company
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Steven R. Vaughan, Yiming Zeng
  • Publication number: 20230024582
    Abstract: The hot melt adhesive composition includes from 1% by weight to less than 10% by weight total polymer content, of which less than 10% by weight, based on the hot melt adhesive composition, is a single site-catalyzed propylene polymer selected from the group consisting of a single site-catalyzed propylene homopolymer, a single site-catalyzed propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, and combinations thereof, liquid plasticizer, and at least 45% by weight of a hydrocarbon tackifying agent having a softening point greater than 90° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas F. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20220181511
    Abstract: A method of encapsulating an electronic component. The method includes applying a first layer of an encapsulating composition onto an electronic component from an applicator roll, the electronic component being disposed on a substrate. The applicator roll comprises an outer surface and is spaced apart from the electronic component such that a gap exists between the applicator roll and the electronic component. The gap controls the thickness of the first layer of encapsulating composition. The first layer of encapsulating composition encapsulates the electronic component on the substrate. An interface between the surface of the electronic component and the encapsulating composition being substantially free of voids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Remmers, Volker K. Kestler, Thomas F. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20220098446
    Abstract: The invention includes a hot melt adhesive composition including from 15% by weight to 60% by weight of polyester polymer selected from a group consisting of poly lactic acid based polymer (PLA) and polyhydroxy alkanoate (PHA) based polymer and greater than 30% by weight to 85% by weight, greater than 40% by weight to 85% by weight, or even greater than 50% by weight to 85% by weight of a polyester plasticizer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) as tested by SEC of no greater than 10,000 Da.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Adam M. Pederson, Kevin P. Davis
  • Publication number: 20210317346
    Abstract: The invention is directed to hot melt adhesive compositions that can be formulated to include a large percentage of bio-based components. The hot melt adhesive composition includes both liquid bio-based tackifying agent and solid bio-based tackifying agent and can further include bio-based polymers and bio-based plasticizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Tara Misra, Thomas F. Kauffman, Ameara S. Mansour
  • Publication number: 20200377716
    Abstract: The hot melt compositions of this invention include from 15% by weight to 60% by weight of a styrene block copolymer, from 15% to 75% by weight of a wax having a Congealing Point (ASTM D938) of from 45° C. to 90° C. and optionally a propylene based polymer. The hot melt composition can be free of both tackifying agent and plasticizer and is useful in a variety of hygiene applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Yiming Zeng
  • Patent number: 10844253
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive composition that includes at least 40% by weight of an unmodified, semi-crystalline propylene polymer that includes at least 50% by weight propylene, and at least 15% by weight wax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: H.B. Fuller Company
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Scott C. Schmidt, Claudia Mosanu, Timothy W. Roska, Amanda L. Schmit, Sharf U. Ahmed, Gary J. Roy
  • Patent number: 10787596
    Abstract: The invention includes a reactive hot melt adhesive composition including an isocyanate functional prepolymer derived from a polyfunctional isocyanate having a functionality of about 2 or more and a polyol, an active hydrogen organofunctional silane, an active hydrogen non-silane capping agent and a thermoplastic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: H. B. Fuller Company
    Inventors: Sunil K. Pillalamarri, Thomas F. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20200157385
    Abstract: The invention features hot melt adhesive compositions including from 50% by weight to 95% by weight of a non-single site catalyzed amorphous poly alpha-olefin copolymer derived from propylene and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of butene and hexene and having a viscosity of no greater 10,000 cP at 190° C. and from 5% by weight to 45% by weight of a polybutene-1 polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Steven R. Vaughan, Yiming Zeng
  • Patent number: 10619081
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive composition that includes a first ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of no greater than 0.90 grams per cubic centimeter, a second styrene block copolymer, tackifying agent, synthetic wax having a melt temperature of at least 70° C. and a heat of fusion of at least 200 Joules/gram, and a third polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer derived from at least 90 mole % ethylene and no greater than 10 mole % co-monomer, propylene-alpha-olefin copolymer derived from at least 8 mole % co-monomer, exhibiting a heat of fusion of from at least 5 J/g to no greater than 60 J/g, and having a polydispersity index of no greater than 10, and propylene homopolymer exhibiting a heat of fusion of from at least 5 J/g to no greater than 60 J/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: H.B. Fuller Company
    Inventors: Beth M. Eichler-Johnson, Thomas F. Kauffman, James E. Welton, Andrew R. Michel
  • Patent number: 10584267
    Abstract: The invention features a hot melt adhesive composition that can be applied at temperatures as low as 107° C., while maintaining excellent bonding under stress and a very fast setting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: H.B.Fuller Company
    Inventors: Richard B. Sergeant, Thomas F. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 10392537
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive composition that includes at least 35% polymer, from about 15% by weight, to no greater than 75% by weight propylene polymer derived from at least 50% by weight propylene and from 0 mole % to about 37.5% by weight of an alpha-olefin comonomer other than propylene, the propylene polymer exhibiting a heat of fusion of from about 5 Joules per gram (J/g) to 60 J/g, from 5% by weight to about 50% by weight ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer derived from at least 50% by weight ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin comonomer having at least three carbon atoms, the ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of no greater than 0.90 g/cm3, and from 18% by weight to about 37% by weight of a wax component that exhibits a melting point greater than 80° C. and a heat of fusion of at least 200 J/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: H.B. Fuller Company
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Scott C. Schmidt, Kim M. Larson, Amanda L. Schmit, Timothy W. Roska
  • Publication number: 20180258330
    Abstract: The invention includes a reactive hot melt adhesive composition including an isocyanate functional prepolymer derived from a polyfunctional isocyanate having a functionality of about 2 or more and a polyol, an active hydrogen organofunctional silane, an active hydrogen non-silane capping agent and a thermoplastic polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Sunil K. Pillalamarri, Thomas F. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20180134927
    Abstract: The invention features a hot melt adhesive composition that can be applied at temperatures as low as 107° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Richard B. Sergeant, Thomas F. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20180002578
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive composition that includes at least 35% polymer, from about 15% by weight, to no greater than 75% by weight propylene polymer derived from at least 50% by weight propylene and from 0 mole % to about 37.5% by weight of an alpha-olefin comonomer other than propylene, the propylene polymer exhibiting a heat of fusion of from about 5 Joules per gram (J/g) to 60 J/g, from 5% by weight to about 50% by weight ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer derived from at least 50% by weight ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin comonomer having at least three carbon atoms, the ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of no greater than 0.90 g/cm3, and from 18% by weight to about 37% by weight of a wax component that exhibits a melting point greater than 80° C. and a heat of fusion of at least 200 J/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Scott C. Scmidt, Kim M. Larson, Amanda L. Schmit, Timothy W. Roska
  • Publication number: 20160230051
    Abstract: The invention is directed to hot melt adhesive compositions that include one or more ethylene based copolymers, no greater than about 27% by weight of a tackifying agent and a wax.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Scott C. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20160130480
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive composition that includes at least 40% by weight of an unmodified, semi-crystalline propylene polymer that includes at least 50% by weight propylene, and at least 15% by weight wax.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Scott C. Schmidt, Claudia Mosanu, Timothy W. Roska, Amanda L. Schmit, Sharf U. Ahmed, Gary L. Roy
  • Patent number: 7199180
    Abstract: Disclosed are adhesives and processes for preparing the same, comprising at least one first homogeneous ethylene/?-olefin interpolymer, and optionally at least one tackifier, and optionally at least one plasticizer. The claimed adhesives are useful as adhesives such as are employed in various applications, such as in masking tape, clear office tape, labels, decals, bandages, decorative and protective sheets (such as shelf and drawer liners), floor tiles, sanitary napkin/incontinence device placement strips, sun control films, the joining of gaskets to automobile windows, packaging, bookbinding, construction of nonwoven articles, and insulation bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignees: The Dow Chemical Company, H.B. Fuller Licensing & Financing Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene R. Simmons, William L. Bunnelle, David B. Malcolm, Keith C. Knutson, Thomas F. Kauffman, Mark S. Kroll, Michael S. Keehr, Deepak R. Parikh, Jimmy D. Allen, David R. Speth, Selim Yalvac, Malcolm F. Finlayson, Cynthia L. Rickey