Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Particulate form
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-20
2003-05-06
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Particulate form
C424S400000, C422S042000, C422S043000, C252S194000, C252S381000, C252S383000, C252S384000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06558705
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The field of the present invention is that of water conservation measures effected using evaporation suppressant chemicals at sites including open water reservoirs and agricultural land. For effecting such measures, this invention relates more particularly to a composition comprising a blend of an inorganic constituent, selected as described hereinafter, with one or more of the higher fatty alcohols, also called alkanols, which have upwards from 12 carbon atoms per molecule. The higher fatty alcohols of use in the blend I disclose are saturated straight-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons within a range whereby in commerce they are designated “detergent range alcohols”.
For clarity as to the nature and field of my invention: the blending of specified constituents which I disclose is clearly unrelated to any special catalytic or any other chemical reaction-involving process for the chemical derivation and production of the higher fatty alcohols themselves, nor do I propose any chemical reaction between constituents of my blend, since none occurs when practicing my method of manufacturing that blend.
2. Prior Art
Scientific literature and patents have conveyed to those of ordinary knowledge in the field of water conservation both suggestions (a.) to apply higher fatty alcohols or compositions containing them to open water sites, and suggestions (b.) to apply higher fatty alcohols or compositions containing them to agricultural land. Increased public concern with prospects of global warming which might bring more drought than usual to some regions lends urgency to need for simplified attainment of civil preparedness for drought by large-scale manufacture and stockpiling of a composition that is effective for water conservation at both kinds of application sites,
One early art practitioner, W. J. Roberts, whose work for the Illinois State Water Survey Division is well known, pointed in the direction of using the same higher fatty alcohol on either open water or agricultural land.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,205,059 to W. J. Roberts (Sep. 7, 1965) teaches that “where desired the alcohol may be applied to the soil in powdered or flake form,”. Previously, regarding application to water, the same substance in the same form had been spread by Roberts on Crystal Lake in Illinois, to forestall drying up of the lake during the summer of 1957, as reported in “Reducing Water vapor Transport with Mornolayers”, W. J. Roberts. pp. 193-201 in
RETARDATION OF EVAPORATION BY MONOLAYERS
, V. R. La Mer, ed., Academic Prsss (1962). Regarding application to land of “tallow alcohols” such as hexadecanol and octadecanol, the Roberts patent conveys a concept respecting reduction of plant transpiration; however, I believe that, from the literal suggestion to apply powdered or flaked tallow alcohol to soil, workers of ordinary knowledge in the field today would expect that, aside from possible plant transpiration reduction, water evaporation from the soil itself likely could also be reduced by executinr the sulestiorn. Guidance in doing so need not be derivative from the Roberts patent but could rely on any and all pertinent information emergent in the past thirty-five years, supplemented by results of easily conducted experiments. One matter of guidance which I consider could be arrived at without excessive experiment is the particular amount of applied higher fatty alcohol content per acre that would be effective to conserve water in given site conditions.
Another early art practitioner, R. D. Dressler, also recognized that higher fatty alcohol blends may be applied on either open water or alricultural land.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,450,488 to R. G. Dressler (Jun. 17, 1969) specifically mentions applications of higher fatty alcohol blends both “to surfaces of Large bodies of open water” and “on damp or moist soil in which plants are growing”. Alternative methods for distribution of the blends of Dressler are reviewed in the context of the first-quoted “most important” application. Identified functional categories of optional blend additives, ie., additives aside from the fatty alcohol homoIogs of essential concern in this Dressler patent, include: “diluents”, “adduct” forgers, “solvents”, “dispersants”, “emulsifiers”, “surfactants”, and “anti-caking agents”.
It is evident that the field encompasses a host of possible blends.
Some particular blends might lend themselves to use on both open water and agricultural land, whilst others might not. Since the Roberts patent mentioned “peat moss or mulch” as possible blending materials in context of an on-land application, it is rational to then consider factors pertinent to their possible use in an open water context. For example, mulches ordinarily possess a certain property of longevity respecting resistance to major structural deterioration upon exposure to water. A mulch cannot function through a reasonably large number of alternate wetting and drying cycles on land if it lacks such longevity, as it would if it dissolved when becoming wet. It may be noted here that the term “mulch” in the Roberts patent is inconclusive on whether an organic or else inorganic material is intended. Inorganic materials such as sand and vermiculite have utility as mulches.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,571 to A. V. Oberholtzer (May 27, 1969) teaches impregnation of higher fatty alcohols into “porous inert solids materials” having an “adsorbent or absorbent” character, The “vermiculite”, “earth materials”, and even “dirt”, which are mentioned are inorganic. Sand is not specifically mentioned but would likely come to mind when thinking of earth materials and dirt. Because cellulosic materials, eg., “ground up stems and leaves”, are also suggested in the Oberholtzer patent, like that of Roberts it fails to specify a preference as between organic and inorganic blending constituents. The Oberholtzer patent suggests distribution of the disclosed blends on collected water bodies, but one easily notes similarity of certain of the suggested blends to a blend of mulch and higher fatty alcohol. Thus, in view of the suggestion in the Roberts patent that a blend of mulch and higher fatty alcohol may be applied to soil, the supposition may reasonably be entertained that those of ordinary knowledge in the field today might perceive that many if not all of Oberholtzer's suggested blends may be susceptible to advantageous distribution on land as well as on water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,058 to J. M. Hall (Oct. 23, 1979), incorporating by reference the abovecited Roberts patent which mentioned “mulch”, discloses a composition comprising a blend of higher fatty alcohol with an “absorbent material”, where specified uses include application to land for the purpose of increasing retention of soil moisture. Thus, in view of the Oberholtzer patent, the supposition may reasonably be entertained that those of ordinary knowledge in the field today might perceive that the composition of Hall may be susceptible to advantageous distribution on water as well as on land.
Probably a number of other higher fatty alcohol containing compositions, suggested by their respective inventors specifically for suppression of evaporation from open water surfaces, might be perceived by workers of ordinary knowledye in the field today as possibly distributable on land, including compositions known from three patents next identified, each of which, in common with the others, as well as with the Oberholtzer patent, mentions that the higher fatty alcohol constituent may be melted in order to facilitate blending with another constituent.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,987 to L. E. Myers (Jul. 9, 1968) discloses manufacture of a composition by melting a higher fatty alcohol and blending the same with a “matrix” or “,carrier” selected from water-soluble saccharides. Regarding molded blocks of the comnposition intended for siting underwater and which require a density greater than that of water, the Myers patent states: “Where greater density is desired a dense material such as powdered calcium or barium sulphate, ground rock, san
Channavajjala Lakshmi
Page Thurman K.
LandOfFree
Composition for reducing evaporation at sites both on land... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Composition for reducing evaporation at sites both on land..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Composition for reducing evaporation at sites both on land... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3078295