Patents Examined by Barbara J. Musser
  • Patent number: 11724468
    Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing a profile member of composite material, the cross-section of which has three branches, including the steps of: —moving together two opposite edges of a panel (2) of sheet material in such a manner that these two opposite edges are juxtapositioned in one juxtapositioning direction; translating a pair of jaws (20) in a direction perpendicular to the juxta-positioning direction in such a manner that the pair of jaws (20) is positioned on either side of the opposite juxtapositioned edges, this translational movement of the pair of jaws (20) being carried out in the direction of a base (25); —simultaneously pressing the sheet material between the two jaws (20), on the one hand, and between the jaws (20) and the base (25), on the other hand; —finishing the profile member of composite material by hardening with a matrix with which the sheet material is impregnated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: LATECOERE
    Inventors: Josef Krena, Miloslav Klisky
  • Patent number: 11725624
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides a system and method for facilitating bonding of various turbine blade components, including trailing edge inserts, or flatbacks, to the trailing edge of a wind turbine blade. The system disclosed herein ensures a consistent force is applied from root to top thereby preventing defects, e.g. paste voids, from forming. Additionally, a consistent bonding gap can be achieved due to the consistent application of force from the root to tip of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TPI Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Villar
  • Patent number: 11718339
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vehicle steering wheel, the steering wheel comprising: —a rim, —an outer sheath formed by at least one strip attached around at least one part of the rim, —at least one device passing through the outer sheath, the method comprising at least the following steps: —positioning the strip around the rim, —attaching the strip to the rim in order to form the outer sheath, —forming an opening in the outer sheath facing an internal part of the device, —folding portions of the outer sheath towards the inside of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Olivier Bertrand, Jonathan Pinaud, Hugues Doursoux, Agnes Quintard
  • Patent number: 11702309
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turning apparatus for a production plant (2) for sanitary products, in particular adult or baby diapers, the turning apparatus having a drum (12) which rotates about a geometrical drum rotational axis (11), and at least one plate (14) which is spaced apart radially from the drum rotational axis (11) and is coupled to the drum (12), which plate (14) comprises a suction face (15) for the transport of sanitary material pieces (16), which suction face (15) holds the respective sanitary material piece (16) by means of a vacuum during the transport, the plate (14) having a geometrical vertical axis (17) which runs radially with respect to the drum rotational axis (11), the plate (14) receiving the sanitary material piece (16) with a first orientation about the vertical axis (17) in a first transfer region (18), and transporting the sanitary material piece (16) from the first transfer region (18) to a second transfer region (20) along a setpoint transfer path (19) which runs in the circumf
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Winkler + Dünnebier GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Spurzem
  • Patent number: 11701683
    Abstract: A method for coating a part that has an asymmetrical edge by attaching the part to a part holder, placing a film between the part and a mandrel, rolling the part over the mandrel such that the asymmetrical edge of the part contact the film, and, moving one or both of the mandrel and the part holder in an angular relationship to one another as the angle of the part's asymmetrical edge changes. A film dispenser and a film retriever are provided and preferably they move cooperatively in at least two dimensions with respect to the part holder. The film has a first edge and a second edge, and the film can be a decorative coating, a protective coating or combinations of these. The film dispenser holds the first edge of the film, the film is positioned between the mandrel and the part holder and the film retriever holds the film second edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Norm Henry Tiilikka, Susana E. Borrero, Ingo Dieter Erhardt, Stefan Rudi Wicklein, Werner Mischer
  • Patent number: 11697277
    Abstract: There is described a hot-stamping press (10; 10?; 10??) comprising a foil application unit (2; 2*) designed to allow transfer or lamination of foil material (FM) by hot-stamping onto a substrate (S) supplied in the form of successive sheets or successive portions of a continuous web, which foil material (FM) is fed to the foil application unit (2; 2*) in the form of a foil carrier (FC) supplied by means of a foil feeding system (3). The hot-stamping press (10; 10?; 10??) further comprises at least one UV-curing unit (61; 62; 63) located along a path (A) of the substrate (S) downstream of the foil application unit (2; 2*) to subject the foil material (FM) transferred or laminated onto the substrate (S) to a UV-curing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: KBA-NOTSYS SA
    Inventors: Aurélie Berthon, Ana Dimitrijevic, Emmanuel Thony
  • Patent number: 11685503
    Abstract: Described herein are stringer assemblies, such as blade stringers, and methods of forming thereof. A stringer assembly comprises a first fabric composite stiffener, a second fabric composite stiffener, and an intermediate tape composite stiffener, disposed between and connected to each of the first and second stiffeners. Using three separate components allows forming sharp bends, eliminating voids and gap fillers, and adding new features, such as edge reinforcements. Each of the first and second fabric composite stiffeners comprises a web portion, a flange portion, and a curved portion, positioned between the web and flange portions. The web portions surround and are attached to the intermediate tape composite stiffener and, in some examples, include tapered-out edges for additional rigidity. The flange portions are attached to the composite base. The curved portions conform to the flared-out edges of the intermediate tape composite stiffener, which extends and connects to the composite base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Forouzan Behzadpour, Waeil M. Ashmawi
  • Patent number: 11679619
    Abstract: A transfer film, a method for producing a film-coated article and a film-coated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Kratzer, Klaus Deckert, Martin Hahn
  • Patent number: 11672707
    Abstract: The method of the present invention includes the steps of: arranging a plurality of non-continuous sheets of a predetermined length intermittently and successively in the conveyance direction on the continuous sheet so that the continuous elastic members are sandwiched between the non-continuous sheets and the continuous sheet; in an overlapping area where the non-continuous sheets overlap with the continuous sheet, attaching the continuous sheet and the non-continuous sheets to each other by welding the sheets to each other in a predetermined pattern, thus producing a continuous laminate; and in a non-overlapping area where the non-continuous sheets do not overlap with the continuous sheet, heating the continuous sheet in the same pattern as said pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Shimada, Daisuke Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11667106
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display device includes: preparing a cover window including a bent part on a side surface thereof, and a guide film including a surface on which a display panel and an adhesive layer are arranged; arranging the cover window and the guide film in a face-to-face manner such that the adhesive layer faces the cover window; seating the guide film onto a seating pad of a first jig; pre-forming the display panel by bringing opposite ends of the guide film into close contact with opposite side surfaces of the seating pad using a pair of push members; and joining the display panel with the cover window by bringing the adhesive layer into contact with the cover window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Toptec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So Hyun Kim, Yang Han Son, Sang Sik Cho, Sang Hee Choi
  • Patent number: 11654650
    Abstract: An embossing and lamination assembly including two pairs of steel/rubber rolls, between which respectively a first paper ply and a second paper ply are returned, wherein an upper steel embossing roll is coupled with an upper embossing rubber counter-roll and a lower steel embossing roll is coupled with a lower rubber embossing counter-roll, and also including a glue delivery assembly, in contact on a side of the upper steel embossing roll, and a coupling roll, in contact with the opposite side of the upper steel embossing roll, wherein the surface of the upper steel embossing roll and/or of the lower steel embossing roll is heated with a heating device directly associated therewith. A relative embossing and lamination method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: GAMBINI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Picchi, Giovanni Buffa
  • Patent number: 11649042
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a method of assembling a mandrel includes assembling a plurality of members via interlocking features arranged at opposing edges of each member of the plurality of members to form a compartment, the assembled members having a collective outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the spar. A support member is inserted into the compartment formed radially inward from the assembled members, the support member making contact with a portion of each member of the plurality of members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Dunn, Keith M. Schenone, Sven R. Lofstrom
  • Patent number: 11648154
    Abstract: A method including: a step of carrying first and second continuous webs in a predetermined carrying direction; a first slitting step of slitting the first continuous web along a virtual first cut-off line extending the carrying direction, thereby dividing the first continuous web into a wider first divided web and a narrower second divided web; a step of sandwiching an around-torso elastic member extending in a girth direction between the wider first divided web and the second continuous web; a welding step of welding together the first divided web, the second continuous web and the around-torso elastic member intermittently in the carrying direction, thereby producing a layered sheet; and a bonding step of sandwiching an around-leg elastic member meandering relative to the carrying direction between the layered sheet and the narrower second divided web, and attaching the around-leg elastic member thereto by an adhesive, thereby producing a stretchable continuous sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Arima
  • Patent number: 11643222
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing the trailing edge ribs and the bearing ribs of trailing edges of aircraft lifting surfaces, in which the trailing edge ribs and the bearing ribs are made by joining simple C-shaped parts and/or simple L-shaped parts so as to obtain the final trailing edge ribs and bearing ribs. The manufacturing of the simple C-shaped parts uses the same tooling both for the trailing edge ribs and the bearing ribs, and the manufacturing of the simple L-shaped parts uses the same tooling both for the trailing edge ribs and the bearing ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Honorato Ruiz, Jesús Javier Vázquez Castro, Enrique Guinaldo Fernández, Carlos García Nieto, Iker Vélez De Mendizábal Alonso
  • Patent number: 11639040
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cured vessel is disclosed herein. The method comprises wrapping a first bladder in a first composite laminate, wrapping a second bladder in a second composite laminate. The method further comprises joining the first composite laminate and the second composite laminate by wrapping them both in a third composite laminate to form an un-cured vessel. The un-cured vessel is cured by heating the uncured vessel and pressurizing the bladder while the uncured vessel is in a vessel mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ching, Jin Hu, Casey Slane
  • Patent number: 11628634
    Abstract: A method for producing a hollow composite structure, such as a spar beam for a wind turbine blade, includes placing a membrane within a mold tool, the membrane being permeable to air and impermeable to resin. A mandrel is placed within the mold tool, the mandrel enclosed in an air tight layer that includes a vent. Fiber reinforcement material is placed around the mandrel within the mold tool and the membrane is sealed at least partly around the fiber reinforcement material and mandrel. The mold tool is closed with the vent line from the mandrel extending through the sealed membrane to outside of the mold tool. A vacuum is drawn in the mold tool while the mandrel is vented to outside of the mold tool, and while the vacuum is being drawn, resin is infused into the mold tool around the mandrel such that the resin is drawn towards the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xu Chen, Amir Riahi, Thomas Merzhaeuser, Julie Ann Shepherd, Louis Rondeau, Scott Iverson Shillig
  • Patent number: 11623888
    Abstract: A glass laminate is produced using infrared emitters to deliver thermal energy to an unbonded glass laminate assembly. Heat may be conducted to the glass laminate by at least one ceramic glass substrate that absorbs at least a portion of the infrared radiation from the emitters, thereby bonding the glass laminate assembly more quickly and efficiently than a conventional vacuum bag process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: James William Masten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11623369
    Abstract: A gripping device (76) is provided for lifting a preform for a wind turbine blade from a preform mould (71). The gripping device (76) comprises a base frame (62), a plurality of arms (78) slidably mounted on the base frame (62), each arm (78) having a proximal end and a distal end, a plurality of gripping members (86) for gripping a top surface (75) of the preform. The vertical position of one or more arms (78) of the gripping device (76) relative to the base frame (62) may change when lowering the gripping device (76) towards a preform to reflect the top surface (75) of the perform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: LM WIND POWER A/S
    Inventor: Kristian Lehmann Madsen
  • Patent number: 11617688
    Abstract: A device for folding web material in a plant for producing layered composite articles includes: a first guide defining a feeding plane for feeding a web material; a second guide positioned downstream of the first guide and defining a receiving plane for receiving the web material, wherein the receiving plane is substantially orthogonal to the feeding plane. A folder is arranged between the first guide and the second guide and includes an elongated edge having a first end close to the first guide and a second end close to the second guide. The elongated edge is extended from the first guide towards the second guide in the receiving plane and away from the feeding plane, in order to progressively move an intermediate portion of the web material away from the feeding plane and fold in two the web material as it travels from the first guide towards the second guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: M.D. VIOLA MACCHINE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Viola, Andrea Viola, Davide Viola
  • Patent number: 11618544
    Abstract: A method for producing a structural section of a vehicle comprises the steps of providing multiple separate skin panels of a fiber-reinforced plastic having an inner side, an outer side and a border running peripherally around the respective skin panel; arranging at least one stiffening component of a fiber-reinforced plastic on each skin panel, on the respective inner side; integrally connecting the respective at least one stiffening component to the skin panels concerned to form a structural component; arranging at least two structural components on a carrier, so that at least regions of the borders of the structural components concerned are in surface-area contact; and integrally connecting the regions of the borders that are in surface-area contact to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Linde, Markus Müller, Markus Feiler