Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Varner, Jr.

Thomas L. Varner, 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).

  • Removing metals from aqueous waste streams
    Patent number: 5785863
    Abstract: Methods of removing contaminant metals from aqueous waste streams. A preferred method includes providing an aqueous waste stream containing a metal having a valence of at least one, such as zinc, lead, chromium, copper, iron, aluminum, manganese, cadmium, gold, silver, and mixtures of these metals. The waste stream is substantially free of calcium and magnesium. The process also includes forming a substantially insoluble precipitate of said metal by mixing with the waste stream fatty acids; zinc, potassium, and sodium salts of fatty acids; and mixtures of these materials. The metal precipitate is separated from the waste stream and the water that is subject to the removal process remains substantially free of calcium and magnesium throughout the entire process. The methods of the present invention are particularly effective for the removal of trace amounts of zinc from aqueous waste streams from polystyrene processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas L. Varner, Jr., William C. Hiatt, Thomas A. Hoermann
  • Removing stains from fixed items
    Patent number: 5522580
    Abstract: A method for removing various stains from stained fixed items uses an aqueous cleaning composition having a pH of at least about 9.0 and composed of up to about 30 percent by total composition weight of a wetting agent containing 1 to about 5 carbon atoms; between about 3 and about 15 percent by total composition weight of a peroxyhydrate oxidizing agent; and a pH adjustment substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas L. Varner, Jr., Timothy W. Blount, Charles R. Minns
  • Method for removing coffee stains from carpet
    Patent number: 5389278
    Abstract: An aqueous cleaning composition has a pH of at least about 9.0 and is composed of up to about 30 percent by total composition weight of a wetting agent containing 1 to about 5 carbon atoms; between about 3 and about 15 percent by total composition weight of a peroxyhydrate oxidizing agent; and a pH adjustment substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Charles R. Minns, Thomas L. Varner, Jr.
  • Volatile carpet sanitizing shampoo containing hydrogen peroxide
    Patent number: 5348556
    Abstract: An aqueous composition cleans and sanitizes carpets and the like. The composition contains (in percents by weight) from about 3 to about 15 percent peroxide, up to about 5% of volatile ammoniated substance, up to about 30% volatile wetting agent, and the balance water. The solution is substantially completely volatile so that it does not leave a soil harboring residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Charles R. Minns, Timothy W. Blount, Thomas L. Varner, Jr.