Expert Details
Polymeric Materials, Flooring, Innovation Management, Ideation, Intellectual Property, Expert Witness
ID: 722958
Pennsylvania, USA
His extensive career at Armstrong World Industries involved new product development, strategic research planning, and intellectual property management. He served as a technical leader and project manager, contributing to the successful development of various flooring products. His expertise encompasses polymer processing, particularly in manufacturing vinyl flooring, and he is skilled in processes such as calendering, extrusion, lamination, and plastisol processing. Additionally, he has provided consultancy services to Armstrong and other companies on various flooring processing issues and patent-related matters. His skills in intellectual property management, patent strategy development, and competitive patent analysis are well-established. Expert's technical proficiency includes advanced coatings, UV coating materials, composite coatings, and release coatings. He has a deep understanding of polymer chemistry and its application in coating formulation development for flooring products.
Throughout his career, Expert has demonstrated his ability to bridge the gap between inventors and patent attorneys, manage patent portfolios, and develop effective patent blocking strategies. His contributions to the flooring industry and his expertise in patent law have made him a valuable asset in both technical and legal domains.
Intellectual Property Expertise:
• Knowledgeable in Patent Law – Registered Patent Agent with law firm experience.
• Experienced Intellectual Property Manager: Patent portfolio analysis.
• Experienced working with in-house and outside counsel.
• Skills in bridging between inventors and patent attorneys, drafting patent applications, claims construction and prosecution-responses to Office Actions.
• Patent Analysis & Strategy Development– Expert with MicroPatent Aureka.
• Competitive blocking strategy development and implementation.
• Experience in testifying during patent lawsuits ( Expert Witness & Fact Witness) – depositions and at trial.
• Experience in conducting Ideation and Invention-On-Demand sessions.
Technical Expertise:
• Expertise in Flooring Materials/Processing/Installation
• Vinyl, Linoleum, Ceramic, Wood, Laminate, Carpet
• Wood processing, engineered wood and surface checking issues
• Laminate structures, installation and performance
• Expertise in PVC Formulating/Processing
• Technical liaison with DLW vinyl and linoleum operations in Germany
• High Performance Coating formulating/processing and performance testing
Thermal cured; UV/EB cured; 100% solids; water/solvent based; sol gel
• Organic Chemistry & Polymer Materials/Processing (broad range)
• Insulation, inks/decorating, films, felt/paper, foams, PVC, polyolefins, polyesters, thermosets and thermoplastics
• Composite structure/physical property relationships, mechanics, and testing
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1969 | Degree: PhD | Subject: Organic Chemistry | Institution: University of New Hampshire |
| Year: 1966 | Degree: BS | Subject: Chemistry | Institution: Junitata College |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2005 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Owner, Consultant | Department: Kauffman Consulting |
Responsibilities:Consulted with two patent law firms on technical/legal issues and consulted on a nine-week contract, conducting an intellectual property and technology assessment. Expert has been an expert witness in a patent litigation trial, and has multiple years of experience as technical consultant with large organizations. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2004 | Employer: Duane Morris | Title: Patent Agent | Department: Patent Department |
Responsibilities:Wrote patent applications, responded to USPTO Office Actions, and conducted patentability searches. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 2003 | Employer: Armstrong World Industries | Title: Technology Leader and Intellectual Property Manager | Department: Flooring Division |
Responsibilities:Led team in search of new materials/processes for flooring materials, responsible for the intellectual property process worldwide and strategy development. Held previous positions as Senior Scientist and Innovation Manager. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to 1996 | Employer: Armstrong World Industries | Title: Innovation Manager | Department: Flooring Division |
Responsibilities:Responsible for R&D and Design groups for residential flooring products. Staff of 65 including Ph.D./MS/BS chemists, engineers, technical specialists, and professional designers. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1992 to 1994 | Employer: Armstrong World Industries | Title: Manager - Advanced Technology R&D Unit | Department: Flooring Division |
Responsibilities:Responsible for identifying new technologies from internal and external sources, assessing practicality, and transferring the technology to Floor Products R&D units. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1987 to 1992 | Employer: Armstrong World Industries | Title: Manager - Residential Sheet R&D Unit | Department: Flooring Division |
Responsibilities:Responsible for developing and implementing new residential sheet flooring products. Staff of 25. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1985 to 1987 | Employer: Armstrong World Industries | Title: Manager - Insulation Products R&D Unit | Department: Industry Products Division |
Responsibilities:Responsible for all research and product development for insulation products: Armaflex foamed rubber insulation. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1984 to 1985 | Employer: Armstrong World Industries | Title: Manager - Physical Testing Unit | Department: Physical Testing & Analytical Services |
Responsibilities:Responsible for physical testing in support of all R&D activities for floor products, building products (ceiling/walls), carpet, industry products, and exploratory divisions. Staff of 30 technical specialists/technicians. |
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International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 2000 to Present | Country / Region: Germany | Summary: Multiple trips to Armstrong's DLW Flooring subsidiary for technical consulting and IP development. |
| Years: 2000 to Present | Country / Region: England | Summary: Multiple trips to Armstrong's Teeside England plant for new product development and processing trials. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Member, American Chemical Society Member, Society of Plastic Engineers Member, National Association of Patent Practitioners |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Registered Patent Agent. |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Patents: 50 Publications: 10+ |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Expert provided depositions and trial witness testimony in a patent infringement case in Federal Court in Philadelphia. He also provided depositions in a patent infringement case in Delaware Federal Court. He participated in depositions of personnel, providing assistance to the lead attorney. Expert has been involved as an Expert Witness in five cases total. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| He has given many training sessions and seminars in his 34-year career. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Expert has broad experience in identifying, evaluating, and selecting vendors/suppliers. He has also established joint venture relationships with multiple vendors/suppliers. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| He developed multiple flooring products that have been successfully brought to market. |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| German | Basic |
Fields of Expertise
new product development, strategic research planning, polymer processing, commercial floor, floor covering, claim (patent), Doctrine of Equivalents, floor, patent claim chart, patent claim construction, patent claim construction brief, patent infringement, patent law, patent prosecution, patent specification, flooring material, vinyl flooring, coating technology, coating material, polymer chemistry, patent, intellectual property, corporate strategic planning, innovation training, technology innovation management, Markman hearing, direct infringement, literal infringement, plastics patent, ceramic floor tile, cross-functional team, stage gate process, epoxy flooring, competitive benchmarking, team building, plastic product development, alkoxysilane, epoxy acrylic coating, competitive intelligence, ideation, acrylate coating material, scuffing, Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, abrasion testing, aqueous polyurethane dispersion, flexible coating material, hardwood flooring, tile flooring, film manufacturing, tile, plastics finishing, floor protection, coating crosslinking, gasketing, inventions, patentability evaluation, fabrication, competitive analysis, technology planning, polymer science, organic coating process, reverse engineering, technology transfer, abrasion-resistant coating material, abrasion, product design, epoxy coating material, linoleum, process inventing, innovation, structural mechanics, structural component, project planning, polymer selection, manufacturing, hardwood, composite structure, ceramic tile, ceramic thin film, ceramic coating material, cellular plastic