Bruce N Stevens

Title: Bruce N. Stevens: Inventor of Improved Flexible Polyurethane Rebond Foam

Introduction

Bruce N. Stevens is an inventor associated with Longview, Texas, and The Dow Chemical Company. His patent work includes a process for producing flexible polyurethane rebond foam with improved tear resistance and elongation. Stevens is credited with 2 patents.

Latest Patents

Stevens’s listed patent, “Flexible Polyurethane Rebond Foam Having Improved Tear Resistance,” describes a method for making rebond polyurethane foam from shredded polyurethane foam. The process coats the shredded material with a prepolymer binder formulation, compresses it, and cures the binder with steam.

A notable feature of the formulation is its use of toluene diisocyanate distillation bottoms. These materials can replace more expensive components, such as toluene diisocyanate or methylene diphenyldiisocyanate. The patent describes how their use can also improve the elongation and tear resistance of the resulting foam.

Career Highlights

Stevens’s work reflects an applied approach to materials innovation: using an industrial byproduct in a foam-bonding formulation while seeking improvements in performance and cost. His patent record connects this development to his association with The Dow Chemical Company.

Collaborations

Charles E. Koehler and John L. Nafziger are identified as Stevens’s coworkers. Their shared professional context places the invention within a broader industrial research environment.

Conclusion

Bruce N. Stevens’s patent work highlights a practical innovation in flexible polyurethane rebond foam, combining a potentially lower-cost binder ingredient with improved tear resistance and elongation.