US5919689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine antifouling methods and compositions
Assignee: Clean Seas Co
•
Filing: 1996-10-29
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Granted: 1999-07-06
•
Expires: 2016-10-29
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are marine antifouling compositions and/or paints containing, microorganism(s), or mixtures of hydrolytic enzyme(s) and microorganism(s), wherein the microorganism or hydrolytic enzyme reduce fouling of a surface coated by the marine antifouling composition and/or paint. Such compositions and/or paints may contain a catalytically effective amount of an inorganic salt. Also disclosed are articles coated with the composition and/or paint. Finally, methods are disclosed for reducing fouling of a marine surface, for reducing marine corrosion, for limiting absorption of water by a marine surface, for reducing the coefficient of drag of a marine surface, removing marine growth from a marine surface, and for reducing mildew fungus on a marine surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Allan Selvig
- 👤 Richard Irwin Leavitt
- 👤 Warren Paul Powers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:33
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D5/00; C09D5/16; C09D5/1606; C09D5/1612; C09D5/1625; C04; C04B; C04B24/00; C04B24/12; C04B24/14; C09D5/1656; C04B2111/00; C04B2111/00474; C04B2111/00482; C04B2111/74
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A marine antifouling composition comprising: a base material selected from the group consisting of an epoxy material, a polyurethane material, a polyester material, a fiberglass material, a silicone material, and an acrylic material; and at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme and at least one microorganism which produces at least one amyloytic or proteolytic enzyme mixed with the base material, wherein the enzyme and the microorganism are present in an effective amount to reduce or prevent fouling of a marine surface coated with the marine antifouling composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A marine antifouling composition comprising: a base material selected from the group consisting of an epoxy material, a polyurethane material, a polyester material, a fiberglass material, a silicone material, and an acrylic material; and at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme and at least one microorganism which produces at least one amyloytic or proteolytic enzyme mixed with the base material, wherein the enzyme and the microorganism are present in an effective amount to reduce or prevent fouling of a marine surface coated with the marine antifouling composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
A marine article coated with the composition of claim 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for reducing fouling of a marine surface, comprising coating the marine surface with a composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition reduces fouling of a marine surface coated with the marine antifouling composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the microorganism also produces a surfactant that acts as a wetting agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for reducing marine corrosion comprising: coating a marine surface with a composition as claimed in claim 1, whereby the composition forms at least one film that reduces adsorption of corrosive molecules to the surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the composition impedes surface corrosion and intergranular corrosion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for limiting absorption of water by a marine surface comprising coating the surface with a composition as claimed in claim 1, whereby the composition produces a film that in turn reduces the porosity of the surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for reducing the coefficient of drag of a marine surface comprising coating the surface with a composition as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The marine antifouling composition of claim 1, wherein the composition includes an inorganic salt present in a catalytically effective amount.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of reducing the tendency of a propeller to cavitate under a load, comprising coating a surface of the propeller with the marine antifouling composition of claim 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for reducing mildew fungus on a marine surface comprising coating a marine surface with a composition as claimed in claim 1, whereby the composition forms at least one film that reduces the adsorption of mildew fungus to the surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
A marine antifouling paint comprising: a paint base material, suitable for marine applications, wherein the base material is selected from the group consisting of an epoxy material, a polyurethane material, a fiberglass material, a polyester material, a silicone material, and an acrylic material; a pigment; and at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme and at least one microorganism which produces at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme mixed with the paint base material, wherein the enzyme and the microorganism are present in an effective amount to reduce or prevent fouling of a marine surface coated with the marine antifouling paint.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A marine antifouling paint comprising: a paint base material, suitable for marine applications, wherein the base material is selected from the group consisting of an epoxy material, a polyurethane material, a fiberglass material, a polyester material, a silicone material, and an acrylic material; a pigment; and at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme and at least one microorganism which produces at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme mixed with the paint base material, wherein the enzyme and the microorganism are present in an effective amount to reduce or prevent fouling of a marine surface coated with the marine antifouling paint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
A marine article coated with the paint of claim 12.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method for reducing fouling of a marine surface, comprising coating the marine surface with a paint as claimed in claim 12, wherein the paint reduces fouling of the marine surface coated with the paint.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the microorganism also produces a surfactant that acts as a wetting agent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for reducing marine corrosion comprising: coating a marine surface with a paint as claimed in claim 12, whereby the paint forms at least one film that reduces adsorption of corrosive molecules to the surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the paint impedes surface corrosion and intergranular corrosion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for limiting absorption of water by a marine surface comprising coating the surface with a paint as claimed in claim 12, whereby the paint produces a film that in turn reduces the porosity of the surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for reducing the coefficient of drag of a marine surface comprising coating the surface with a paint as claimed in claim 12.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The marine antifouling paint of claim 12, wherein the composition includes an inorganic salt present in a catalytically effective amount.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of reducing the tendency of a propeller to cavitate under a load, comprising coating a surface of the propeller with the marine antifouling composition of claim 12.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
A marine antifouling composition comprising: a polymer resin base material; and at least one microorganism which produces at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme in the base material, wherein the microorganism is present in an effective amount to reduce or prevent fouling of a marine surface coated with the marine antifouling composition.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
A marine antifouling composition comprising: a polymer resin base material; and at least one microorganism which produces at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme in the base material, wherein the microorganism is present in an effective amount to reduce or prevent fouling of a marine surface coated with the marine antifouling composition.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A marine antifouling composition according to claim 22, wherein the polymer resin base material is selected from the group consisting of an epoxy material, a polyurethane material, a polyester material, a fiberglass material, a silicone material, and an acrylic material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A marine antifouling composition according to claim 22, wherein the microorganism also produces a surfactant that acts as a wetting agent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A marine antifouling composition according to claim 22, further including at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme in the base material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
A marine antifouling paint comprising: a paint base material, suitable for marine applications; a pigment; and at least one microorganism which produces at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme in the paint base material, wherein the microorganism is present in an effective amount to reduce or prevent fouling of a marine surface coated with the marine antifouling paint.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
A marine antifouling paint comprising: a paint base material, suitable for marine applications; a pigment; and at least one microorganism which produces at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme in the paint base material, wherein the microorganism is present in an effective amount to reduce or prevent fouling of a marine surface coated with the marine antifouling paint.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A marine antifouling paint according to claim 26, wherein the paint base material is selected from the group consisting of an epoxy material, a polyurethane material, a polyester material, a fiberglass material, a silicone material, and an acrylic material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A marine antifouling paint according to claim 26, wherein the microorganism also produces a surfactant that acts as a wetting agent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A marine antifouling paint according to claim 26, further including at least one amylolytic or proteolytic enzyme in the paint base material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-05 | 2003-01-04 | 2003-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-05 | 2007-01-04 | 2007-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-05 | 2011-01-04 | 2011-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |