IP Library Granted Patent US 8,721,319
Granted Patent B2
US 8,721,319 · App. 12/404,937 · Granted May 13, 2014

Superfine fiber creating spinneret and uses thereof

Inventors: Karen Lozano (McAllen, TX); Kamalaksha Sarkar (Edinburg, TX)
Assignee: Board of Regents of the University to Texas System
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,721,319
App. No.
12/404,937
Granted
May 13, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for the production of superfine fibers.

Claims (22)

1. An apparatus for creating superfine fibers, comprising:

a spinneret comrising:

a body, wherein at least a portion of the body receives material to be formed into a fiber;

one or more needles removably coupled to the body;

a driver, wherein the spinneret is couplable to the driver, and wherein the driver is capable of rotating the spinneret; and

a superfine fiber collection device at least partially surrounding the spinneret, wherein the collection device does not include a device capable of generating an electric field, proximate to the spinneret, that is sufficient to draw a fiber from the needles of the spinneret;

wherein the driver rotates the spinneret at a speed sufficient to causes at least a portion of the material disposed in the body or one or more of the needles to be ejected through one or more of the needles and form superfine fibers as the ejected material solidifies.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the driver is capable of being rotated at a speed of at least about 500 RPM.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the body that receives the material comprises one or more conduits or openings for supplying the material to one or more needles.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an opening of the needles has a diameter such that the superfine fibers formed are microfibers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an opening of the needles has a diameter such that the superfine fibers formed are nanofibers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the superfine fiber collection device is a collection wall that at least partially surrounds the spinneret.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , where the collection wall completely surrounds the spinneret.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the superfine fiber collection device comprises a collection rod having a longitudinal axis that is coaxial to the axis of rotation of the spinneret.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the superfine fiber collection device comprises an elongated structure with open ends and an open top.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a heater thermally coupled to the spinneret.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cooler thermally coupled to the spinneret.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a housing surrounding at least the spinneret wherein the environment inside the housing is controllable.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , where the housing is insulated.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , where the housing is capable of creating a sterile environment.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , where the housing is capable of creating an environment having pressures of 1-760 millimeters (mm) of mercury (Hg).

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , where the housing is capable of creating an environment having pressures of 761 mm Hg to 4 atmospheres (atm).

Assignments (2)
LICENSE Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
To: CLARCOR INC.
Reel/Frame 038245/0919 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2009
From: LOZANO, KAREN; SARKAR, KAMALAKSHA
To: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
Reel/Frame 022521/0122 →
Continuity (5)
Provisional Application 61037184 · Mar 17, 2008
Provisional Application 61037193 · Mar 17, 2008
Provisional Application 61037209 · Mar 17, 2008
Provisional Application 61037216 · Mar 17, 2008
Related Publication 20090269429A1 · Oct 29, 2009