Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Bernard J. Graves, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6794049
    Abstract: Acetoacetate-functional alkyd resins are disclosed, as are compositions including such resins in combination with at least one drier and an organic solvent. The acetoacetate-functional alkyd resin described is the reaction product of an alkyd resin with an alkyl acetoacetate. Also disclosed are methods of preparing such compositions, and uses for such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thauming Kuo, Paul Vincent Grosso, Gary Eugene Spilman, Mark Dwight Clark
  • Patent number: 6790999
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the continuous, semi-continuous or batch production of 3-buten-1-ol from 3,4-epoxy-1-butene wherein 3,4-epoxy-1-butene and formic acid are fed to a reaction zone having a catalyst solution comprising a palladium(0) compound, a tertiary phosphine, a trialkylamine and an organic solvent. Preferably in the operation of this invention, 3-buten-1-ol product and reaction side products serve as the organic solvent for the process. The preferred mode of operation is continuous addition of reactants to the reaction mixture with simultaneous, continuous distillation of a reaction product comprising 3-buten-1-ol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: Stephen Neal Falling
  • Patent number: 6787589
    Abstract: This application discloses amber colored polyesters suitable for packaging food and beverages. The amber polyester compositions provide excellent blockage of UV and visible light over the wavelength ranges of from about 320-550 nm, rendering them suitable for packaging materials sensitive to ultraviolet and visible light over this wavelength range, particularly beer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Max Allen Weaver, Marc Alan Strand, Crystal Leigh Kendrick, Gerry Foust Rhodes, Gertrude Williams, Jason Clay Pearson, Timothy Alan Upshaw
  • Patent number: 6787658
    Abstract: Disclosed are thermally-stable, anthraquinone colorant compounds (dyes) which contain one or more vinyl groups which render the compounds copolymerizable with reactive vinyl monomers to produce colored, polymeric compositions such as acrylate and methacrylate polymeric materials. The compounds possess good fastness (stability) to ultraviolet (UV) light, good solubility in vinyl monomers, good color strength and excellent thermal stability. Also disclosed are (1) coating composition comprising (i) one or more polymerizable vinyl compounds, (ii) one or more of the dye compounds described above, and (iii) a photoinitiator and (2) polymeric materials, i.e., polymers derived from one or more acrylic acid esters, one or more methacrylic acid esters, one or more other polymerizable vinyl compounds or mixtures of any two or more thereof, having copolymerized therein one or more of the anthraquinone colorant compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael John Cyr, Max Allen Weaver, Gerry Foust Rhodes, Jason Clay Pearson, Phillip Michael Cook, Jos Simon De Wit, Larry Keith Johnson
  • Patent number: 6780523
    Abstract: A waterborne acetoacetate-functionalized alkyd coating composition is disclosed which includes an acetoacetate-functionalized alkyd resin, at least one drier, and water. The acetoacetate-functionalized alkyd resin is the reaction product of (i) an alkyd resin, and (ii) an alkyl acetoacetate. Also disclosed is a method of preparing a waterborne acetoacetate-functionalized alkyd coating composition which includes the step of contacting an acetoacetate-functionalized alkyd resin with at least one drier in the presence of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thauming Kuo, Paul Vincent Grosso, Gary Eugene Spilman, Mark Dwight Clark
  • Patent number: 6777048
    Abstract: A polyester pellet composition, a preform, and a bottle, each comprising a polyester polymer and silicon carbide. A polyester, and in particular a polyethylene terephthalate polyester, bottle containing silicon carbide has a low coefficient of static friction and a low bottle sidewall haze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Donna Rice Quillen, Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr., Steven Lee Stafford
  • Patent number: 6777479
    Abstract: Polymer composite materials comprising of least one polymer resin and platelet particles from at least one layered silicate material uniformly dispersed in the resin and articles prepared from the polymer composite materials. The polymer composite contains at least one polyamide resin, at least one oxygen scavenging system, and at least one layered silicate material. These polymer composite materials are especially useful for manufacturing clear polyester bottles and polyester film that are recyclable have improved active gas barrier properties to oxygen, and have improved passive barrier properties to carbon dioxide and other gases. The polymer composite materials can be used in relatively minor amounts as either a blend or a coextruded thin layer with virgin or post consumer recycled polyesters and related copolymners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Linda Gail Bernard, Horst Clauberg, Michael John Cyr, John Walker Gilmer, Jeffrey Todd Owens, Mark Edward Stewart, Sam Richard Turner, Shriram Bagrodia, James Christopher Matayabas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6765048
    Abstract: A novel composition is provided comprising a specified polyethylene component and a filler such that a film formed from the composition is characterized by having increased moisture vapor transmission rate. Also disclosed is a novel polyethylene composition useful in producing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kathryn Kobes Dohrer, Wesley Raymond Hale, Irving Daniel Sand, Mark Alan Edmund, Martin Ray Tant, Emmett Dudley Crawford, Edward Philip Savitski, Dennis Brannon Barr
  • Patent number: 6759492
    Abstract: A novel continuous gas phase polymerization process for producing polyethylene and interpolymers of ethylene and at least one other olefin is provided wherein a non-aromatic halogenated hydrocarbon(s) is used in a specified amount such that the activity of the titanium, zirconium and/or hafnium containing Ziegler-Natta catalyst is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Don Kent Farrer, Kenneth Alan Dooley, Glenn Edward Moore, Larry Allen Noble
  • Patent number: 6755355
    Abstract: A coal gasification nozzle is disclosed having a barrier, integral with the face of the injector, that fits into a groove of a heat shield attached to the nozzle face. The barrier prevents oxidative corrosion of the shield, and subsequent damage to the underlying face of the feed injector, by preventing diffusion of corrosive species to the threaded ring by which the heat shield is attached to the face of the nozzle. The life of the injector, and thus the length of any single gasification campaign, is thereby extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: Gary Scott Whittaker
  • Patent number: 6752983
    Abstract: A consumer article comprising a hand-held spray container, and a sprayable composition contained within the spray container comprising ethanol or isopropanol and methyl acetate or t-butyl acetate, a hair care composition comprising a fixative, ethanol, and methyl acetate or t-butyl acetate, and a method of fixing hair comprising spraying the compositions of this invention onto hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Suzanne W. Dobbs, Terry A. Oldfield, Phillip M. Cook, William R. Bryan
  • Patent number: 6740377
    Abstract: A PCT copolyester composition having at least about 70 mole % terephthalic acid and at least about 70 mole % 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and an inherent viscosity of greater than about 0.9 dL/g is prepared by solid state polymerizing a copolyester composition having a starting inherent viscosity of from about 0.4 to about 0.8 dL/g for a period of from about 1 minute to 100 hours and at a temperature of from about 140° C. to about 2° C. below the melting point of the copolyester to produce a copolyester having an inherent viscosity of greater than about 0.9 dL/g. Another aspect of the present invention is an extrusion blow molded article made from the copolyester prepared by the solid state polymerization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Harold Eugene Dobbs
  • Patent number: 6740762
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of ascorbic acids from 2-keto-hexonic acids or 2-keto-hexonic acid derivatives using alkaline earth silicate catalysts. The process may be carried out in water, alcohols, or in a variety of polar or moderately polar solvents or solvent mixtures and provides for simple workup and purification of ascorbic acid products. The process generates no by-product salts and thus, does not require the steps of neutralization or the handling of salt by-products. The process is particularly suited for the continuous preparation of L-ascorbic acid from 2-keto-L-gulonic acid and its esters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Joseph Robert Zoeller, Allen Lynn Crain
  • Patent number: 6727372
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel colorant compounds which contain one or more ethylenically-unsaturated (vinyl), photopolymerizable radicals which may be copolymewrized (or cured) with ethylenically-unsaturated monomers to produce colored compositions such as colored acrylic coatings and polymers, e.g., coatings and polymers produced from acrylate and methacrylate esters, colored polystyrenes, and similar colored polymeric materials derived from other ethylenically-unsaturated monomers. The present invention also pertains to processes for the preparation of certain of the photopolymerizable colorant compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael John Cyr, Max Allen Weaver, Gerry Foust Rhodes, Jason Clay Pearson, Phillip Michael Cook
  • Patent number: 6716898
    Abstract: Disclosed are amber polyester compositions suitable for packaging food and beverages wherein the compositions significantly absorbs light of wavelengths shorter than about 550 nm which is achieved by a combination of several colorants, most of which are copolymerized into the polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Max Allen Weaver, Horst Clauberg, Samuel David Hilbert, Dale Milton Blakely, Sara Stanley Wells
  • Patent number: 6713641
    Abstract: Disclosed are blue, diol anthraquinone blue colorant compounds having excellent thermal stability and which can be reacted into or copolymerized with polyester thus providing a blue-colored polyesters useful for manufacturing a variety of shaped articles such as photographic film base, particularly roentgenographic (X-ray) film. Also disclosed are blue anthraquinone colorant compounds which contain two ethylenically-unsaturated (vinyl), photopolymerizable radicals which may be derived from the aforesaid diol anthraquinone compounds. The anthraquinone colorant compounds containing two ethylenically-unsaturated may be reacted into or copolymerized (or cured) with ethylenically-unsaturated monomers to produce colored vinyl polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Max Allen Weaver, Gerry Foust Rhodes, Jason Clay Pearson, Sara Stanley Wells, Michael John Cyr
  • Patent number: 6710128
    Abstract: A process is provided to produce an aqueous composition. The process comprises shearing a mixture to produce a mini-emulsion and polymerizing said mini-emulsion in the presence of an initiator to produce the aqueous composition; wherein said mixture comprises at least one tackifier, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least one surfactant, and water. The aqueous composition can be utilized to produced various articles including, but not limited to, adhesives, coatings, and laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bradley James Helmer, Glenn Lewis Shoaf
  • Patent number: 6706399
    Abstract: The present invention provides an article of manufacture having a coating or is otherwise surrounded in large measure by a second polymer which has non-blocking characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the article possesses a core polymer which has a Tg of less than 25° C. which is coated with or otherwise surrounded by a second polymer which has a Tg of greater than 25° C., but less than 230° C. Further, preferred core polymers have a number average molecular weight of about 3000 to about 100,000. A further feature of the articles of the present invention is that when heated to temperatures of about 100 to 300° C., they undergo an ester exchange reaction to provide a substantially homogeneous polymer product useful in hot melt adhesive applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Scott Ellery George, Coralie McKenna Fleenor, David T. Bowers, Richard Anthony Miller, Ricky Thompson
  • Patent number: 6706891
    Abstract: Processes for the preparation of 4,5-bisimino-[1,3]dithiolanes and 2,3-bisimino-[1,4]dithianes are described. The processes involve conversion of an oxalamide to a dithiooxalamide, followed by conversion of the dithiooxalamide to either a 4,5-bisimino-[1,3]dithiolane or a 2,3-bisimino-[1,4]dithiane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: James Allen Ponasik, Jr., Leslie Shane Moody, Peter Borden Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 6699931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to modified alkyd polymers, and compositions made from such polymers, wherein the alkyd polymers are modified with polyol-containing latex compositions and/or diol-containing latex compositions. The invention further relates to compositions prepared from such modified alkyd compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thauming Kuo, John David Moncier, Allan Scott Jones, David Logan Murray, Mahendra Kumar Sharma