Patents by Inventor Zak Eckel

Zak Eckel 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).

  • Methods and systems for inspecting hierarchical powders and verifying the functionalization of powder surfaces
    Patent number: 11440246
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a methodology in which nanoparticle-coated microparticles are rapidly quality-checked for verification of surface functionalization of a commercial quantities of hierarchical powder. Some variations provide a method for inspecting surface-functionalized microparticles, comprising: selecting samples of hierarchical powders comprising microparticles and surface-coated nanoparticles; subjecting the hierarchical powders to a sample particle-size measurement; comparing the sample particle-size measurement to a baseline measurement; and determining the relative concentration of free nanoparticles, based on particle-size distributions. If the sample particle-size measurement is statistically equivalent to the baseline measurement, that is verification of complete surface functionalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Darby Laplant, John H. Martin, Jacob Hundley, Julie Miller, Zak Eckel
  • FR composite composition for light-based additive manufacturing
    Patent number: 11286327
    Abstract: A fire retardant (FR) composite composition, including a liquid polymer, wherein the liquid polymer includes a photopolymer including at least two of a first molecule, a second molecule, and a third molecule, a FR thermoset, and a photoinitiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Zak Eckel, Phuong Bui, Mark O'Masta, Jacob Hundley, Tony Koung
  • FR COMPOSITE COMPOSITION FOR LIGHT-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Publication number: 20210171697
    Abstract: A fire retardant (FR) composite composition, including a liquid polymer, wherein the liquid polymer includes a photopolymer including at least two of a first molecule, a second molecule, and a third molecule, a FR thermoset, and a photoinitiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Zak Eckel, Phuong Bui, Mark O'Masta, Jacob Hundley, Tony Kuong
  • Thermoplastic reinforced micro-truss materials
    Patent number: 9341775
    Abstract: A micro-truss fabricated of thermosetting polymer and toughened with a coating of thermoplastic polymer. In one embodiment the thermosetting polymer micro-truss is immersed in a solution of thermoplastic polymer in an organic solvent. The immersion causes the micro-truss to absorb the thermoplastic polymer solution and to become coated with the thermoplastic polymer solution. Subsequent drying of the micro-truss leaves a coating of thermoplastic polymer on the micro-truss, and a layer of thermosetting polymer into which the thermoplastic polymer has penetrated. In another embodiment a thermoplastic monomer solution is allowed to diffuse into, and coat, the thermosetting polymer micro-truss, and the thermoplastic monomer is subsequently polymerized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Zak Eckel, Alan J. Jacobsen, Andrew P. Nowak, Sophia S. Yang