Patents by Inventor Tien Yi T.H. Whiting

Tien Yi T.H. Whiting 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: 20240317955
    Abstract: Polymeric foamed compositions, foam padded materials that include such polymeric foamed compositions, and packaging articles (e.g., envelopes) that include such foam padded materials, wherein the foamed composition includes: a polymeric component including a copolymer including divalent hydroxyethylene monomer units and divalent dihydroxybutylene monomer units; wherein the composition is in the form of an at least partially water-soluble foam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Yaohua Gao, Stephen M. Sanocki, Sithya S. Khieu, Ignatius A. Kadoma, Cory D. Sauer, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Mitchell A.F. Johnson, Jeffrey P. Kalish, Daniel L. Schlosser, Michael Brett Runge, Matt R. Branscomb
  • Publication number: 20240245939
    Abstract: A respirator includes a mask body. The respirator further includes a harness including one or more elastic straps. Each of the one or more elastic straps is joined to the mask body on opposing sides thereof. Each of the one or more elastic straps includes at least one first color scheme and at least one second color scheme. The at least one first color scheme is visibly different from the at least one second color scheme. Each of the one or more elastic straps includes at least about 0.5% to about 99.9% of an elastomeric polyolefin by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: NhatHa T. Nguyen, Ronald W. Ausen, Silvia G.B. Guttmann, Michael C. Martin, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Allyson V. Grym, Jeffrey P. Kalish
  • Publication number: 20240117138
    Abstract: Disclosed are polymeric foamed compositions, foam padded materials that include such polymeric foamed compositions disposed on a sheet material, and packaging articles (e.g., envelopes) made from such foam padded materials. The polymeric foamed composition on the sheet material has a plurality of foamed structures formed from the foamable composition attached to the sheet material by a layer of the foamable composition, and the plurality foam structures each having a hollow core and a foam exterior shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Yaohua Gao, Stephen M. Sanocki, Sithya S. Khieu, Ignatius A. Kadoma, Cory D. Sauer, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Mitchell A.F. Johnson, Jeffrey P. Kalish, Daniel L. Schlosser, Michael Brett Runge, Matt R. Branscomb
  • Publication number: 20220365260
    Abstract: A retroreflective article including a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer and a discontinuous binder-borne reflective layer that is provided by a portion of a fractured binder-borne reflective sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Kui Chen-Ho, Graham M. Clarke, Kevin W. Gotrik, Michael A. McCoy, Christopher A. Merton, Aaron M. Nash, Shri Niwas, Anthony F. Schultz, Carla S. Thomas, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Ying Xia, Scott J. Jones
  • Publication number: 20220214478
    Abstract: A retroreflective article comprises a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements, each retroreflective element comprising a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements comprise a first locally laminated layer and a second locally laminated layer that may be reflective layers. A transfer article comprises a disposable carrier layer in which the retroreflective article is detachably disposed with at least some of the transparent microspheres in contact with the disposable carrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin W. Gotrik, Kui Chen-Ho, Graham M. Clarke, Scott J. Jones, Michael A. McCoy, Shri Niwas, David J. Rowe, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Ying Xia
  • Publication number: 20220215665
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for a personal protective equipment (PPE) management system (PPEMS) that uses images of optical patterns embodied on articles of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to identify safety conditions that correspond to usage of the PPEs. In one example, an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a first optical pattern embodied on a surface of the article of PPE; a second optical pattern embodied on the surface of the article of PPE, wherein a spatial relation between the first optical pattern and the second optical pattern is indicative of an operational status of the article of PPE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Caroline M. Ylitalo, Kui Chen-Ho, Paul L. Acito, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, James B. Snyder, Travis L. Potts, James W. Howard, James L.C. Werness, Jr., Suman K. Patel, Charles A. Shaklee, Katja Hansen, Glenn E. Casner, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Neeraj Sharma
  • Publication number: 20220206195
    Abstract: A retroreflective article including a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements include a first layer that is disposed between the transparent microsphere and the binder layer and a second layer that is disposed between the transparent microsphere and the binder layer. At least one of the first layer and the second layer is a reflective layer; and, the first reflective layer and the second reflective layer differ in reflectivity. For at least some of the retroreflective elements, at least a portion of the second reflective layer is positioned in-parallel to the first reflective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kui Chen-Ho, Ying Xia, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, David J. Rowe, Shri Niwas, Michael A. McCoy, Scott J. Jones, Kevin W. Gotrik, Graham M. Clarke, Lok-Man Ng
  • Publication number: 20220073795
    Abstract: There is provided adhesive compositions comprising a styrenic block copolymer and at least one tackifier, where the at least one tackifier contains non-carbon hetero-atom functionality, and where the adhesive composition is wash durable when bonded to a substrate. There is also provided articles made using these adhesives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Ying Xia, Justin M. Bolton, Kui Chen-Ho, Shri Niwas, Jonathan E. Janoski, Anthony F. Schultz, Gregg A. Patnode, Carla S. Thomas, Duane D. Fansler
  • Publication number: 20220056320
    Abstract: There is provided retroreflective articles comprising a binder layer comprising an adhesive composition comprising at least one tackifier and at least one elastomer selected from at least one of natural rubbers and synthetic rubbers, and a layer of optical elements at least partially embedded in a major surface of the binder layer. There are also provided articles of clothing using the presently disclosed retroreflective articles and methods for preparing the retroreflective articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Ying Xia, Justin M. Bolton, Kui Chen-Ho, Shri Niwas, Jonathan E. Janoski, Anthony F, Schultz, Gregg A. Patnode, Carla S. Thomas, Duane D. Fansler
  • Publication number: 20210229834
    Abstract: The systems and techniques of this disclosure relate to improving work safety in confined spaces by, for example, using machine vision to analyze location marking labels in the confined space to control an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) within the confined space. In one example, a system includes a UAV that includes an imaging device and a processor communicatively coupled to the imaging device. The processor may be configured to receive, from the imaging device, an image of a confined space, detect a location marking label within the image, process the image to decode data embedded on the location marking label, and control navigation of the UAV within the confined space based on the data decoded from the location marking label.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: James W. Howard, James L.C. Werness, Jr., Caroline M. Ylitalo, Claire R. Donoghue, John A. Wheatley, Robert D. Lorentz, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Matthew E. Sousa, Carla H. Barnes
  • Publication number: 20200279116
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for a personal protective equipment (PPE) management system (PPEMS) that uses images of optical patterns embodied on articles of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to identify safety conditions that correspond to usage of the PPEs. In one example, an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a first optical pattern embodied on a surface of the article of PPE; a second optical pattern embodied on the surface of the article of PPE, wherein a spatial relation between the first optical pattern and the second optical pattern is indicative of an operational status of the article of PPE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Caroline M. Ylitalo, Kui Chen-Ho, Paul L. Acito, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, James B. Snyder, Travis L. Potts, James W. Howard, James L.C. Werness, Jr., Suman K. Patel, Charles A. Shaklee, Katja Hansen, Glenn E. Casner, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Neeraj Sharma
  • Publication number: 20200160354
    Abstract: In some examples, an article may include a layer having a first surface marked with a first code. The article may include a second surface marked with a second code, the second code obscured by the layer to be unreadable through the layer. The first code and the second code may be associated in transaction data stored by a blockchain managed by a consensus network of nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: James W. Howard, Siddhant Vashist, Carlo D. Supina, Karl Battle, Jonathan L. Diaz-Lopez, James B. Snyder, James L.C. Werness, Jr., Tien Yi T.H. Whiting
  • Publication number: 20200003935
    Abstract: Retroreflecting articles are described. In particular, retroreflecting articles including a quarter wave retarder and a retroreflecting layer are described. The retarder is rotationally invariant and the retroreflecting layer is non-depolarizing. Such articles may be useful for sensor-detectable signs, labels, and garments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Michael A. McCoy, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Guanglei Du, Neeraj Sharma, Kui Chen-Ho, Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Publication number: 20190302317
    Abstract: A light directing article comprises an acrylic polyvinyl acetal film to protect the optical elements of the light directing article. The acrylic polyvinyl acetal film has a Tg of at least 30° C. and comprises a (meth)acrylic polymer and polyvinyl acetal polymer. The acrylic polyvinyl acetal film is flexible and durable to mechanical deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Todd D. Jones, Bimal V. Thakkar, Duane D. Fansler, Anthony F. Schultz, Jonathan E. Janoski, David C. Lueneburg, Carla S. Thomas, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, Robert F. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20180312939
    Abstract: Provided are methods and related compositions for separating immiscible organic and aqueous compositions. The methods include dispersing a discrete, insoluble filler in the organic composition, dispersing the organic composition into the aqueous composition, separating under gravity the organic and aqueous compositions into respective upper and lower layers. Advantageously, the insoluble filler remains in the organic composition and facilitates segregation and coalescence of droplets of the organic composition in the aqueous composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Sierakowski, Andrew W. Rabins, Karl D. Weilandt, Clinton P. Waller, Jr., Mikhail A. Belkin, Susannah C. Clear, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting