Patents Examined by Elizabeth M. Cole
  • Patent number: 9221081
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are cleaning discs for cleaning one or more elements of a semiconductor processing apparatus. In some embodiments, the disc may have a substantially circular upper surface, a substantially circular lower surface, a substantially circular edge joining the upper and lower surfaces, and a plurality of pores opening at the edge and having an interior extending into the interior of the disc. In some embodiments, the pores are dimensioned such that a cleaning agent may be retained in the interior of the pores by an adhesive force between the cleaning agent and the interior surface of the pores. Also disclosed herein are cleaning methods involving loading a cleaning agent into a plurality of pores of a cleaning disc, positioning the cleaning disc within a semiconductor processing apparatus, and releasing cleaning agent from the plurality of pores such that elements of the apparatus are contacted by the released cleaning agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Mayer, Thomas A. Ponnuswamy, Lee Peng Chua, Robert Rash
  • Patent number: 9216560
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a reflective insulation product is provided. The product includes a first outer layer having reflective material, a second outer layer, and an inner layer. The inner layer includes fiberglass and urethane, the urethane being present in an amount of at least about 5% by weight. The inner layer is positioned between the first outer layer and second outer layer such that the first outer layer is adhered to a first side of the inner layer by the urethane and the second outer layer is adhered to a second side of the inner layer by the urethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Silvercote, LLC
    Inventor: William H. Crostic, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9186850
    Abstract: A woven fiber preform, a fiber reinforced composite incorporating the preform, and methods of making thereof are disclosed. The woven preform includes a plurality of warp and weft yarns or fibers interwoven to form a continuous spiral fabric. The spiral fabric may take the shape of an Archimedes spiral. The weft yarns in the preform may have a uniform or variable pick spacing, or a uniform or variable angular separation. The spiral fabric of the Archimedes spiral may be assembled or wrapped to form a conical shell structure, which could be a portion of a spinner or an exit cone. The spiral fabric may be woven on a loom equipped with a differential take-up mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Albany Engineered Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Goering
  • Patent number: 9175422
    Abstract: A polymer-micelle complex suitable for use as an aid to preparing fibers, particularly nanofibers, by electrospinning. The polymer-micelle complex may be designed to impart viscosity, surface tension and conductivity properties optimal for electrospinning. By incorporating the complex as a secondary ingredient, one may electrospin sparingly soluble or low molecular weight polymers. Moreover, the polymer-micelle complex can be used as a generic carrier for preparing fibers incorporating other desired materials, such as rigid or globular (hard-to-spin) polymers, enzymes, cells, viral particles and nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Ramanathan Nagarajan, Christopher P. Drew, Charlene M. Mello
  • Patent number: 9162420
    Abstract: A solvent-free multilayer laminated material comprises a lower substrate layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer or a mixture of thermoplastic polymers, an intermediate layer arranged thereon and comprising a flexible material, a further fibrous intermediate layer comprising plastic, which is provided with an adhesive material and an upper layer comprising metal, comprising plastic or comprising wood or wood-like materials. It does surprisingly not show any deformation even under exposure to temperatures of about 80° C. over a period of up to 40 days and can be used for the production of articles of furniture, floor coverings, wall panels or shaped articles for the electrical, construction or automotive industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia S.r.l.
    Inventors: Klaus Müller, Ines Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9133570
    Abstract: A process for using recycled waste cotton material to produce a textile product is provided. The process can include collecting different categories of waste cotton material from a variety of textile formation processes. The process can also include selecting specific categories of waste cotton material to be blended together depending on the textile product to be produced. In the process, sequence of cleaning, opening and blending processing steps can be selected to be used in making a yarn depending on the textile product to be produced. The selected specific categories of waste cotton material can be cleaned, opened and blended into blended cotton fibers. The blended cotton fibers can then be processed into the textile product to be produced. Thus, a textile product can be provided that includes yarn that can have at least three different categories of waste cotton material that are from textile formation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: PARADIGM ONE, LLC
    Inventor: Elliott D. Lightman
  • Patent number: 8137810
    Abstract: A process for producing polyacrylonitrile-base precursor fibers for production of carbon fibers, which comprises spinning a spinning dope containing 10 to 25 wt % of a polyacrylonitrile-base polymer having an intrinsic viscosity of 2.0 to 10.0 by extruding the spinning dope from a spinneret by a wet spinning or a dry wet spinning method, drying and heat-treating fibers obtained by the spinning, and then steam drawing the resulting fibers, wherein the linear extrusion rate of the polyacrylonitrile-base polymer from the spinneret is 2 to 15 m/min. Carbon fibers which are produced by stabilizing-carbonizing treatment of the polyacrylonitrile-base precursor fibers and which have a strand tensile modulus of 320 to 380 GPa and a conduction electron density of 3.0×1019 to 7.0×1019 spins/g as determined by electron spin resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Masafumi Ise, Isao Nakayama, Makoto Endo
  • Patent number: 8080487
    Abstract: The present invention provides fabrics that have unique mechanical, chemical, electrical, and thermal properties. The fabrics comprise layers of woven, knit or felted fibers, yarns or tow. Interstitially synthesized nanotubes, such as single-walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes, enhance the fabric's antiballistic properties. These nanotubes may also insulate, semi-conduct or super-conduct electrical charges, or provide enhanced thermal properties of these fabrics which can be layered to form unique garments or structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Slade H. Gardner, James R. Peoples, Brian T. Rosenberger
  • Patent number: 7981818
    Abstract: A multilayer composite sheet for use in a lead-acid battery includes a) a base layer including paper or a glass fiber mat; b) a layer of polymeric nanofibers bonded with discrete adhesive particles to a first surface of the base layer; and c) a scrim layer bonded with discrete adhesive particles to a surface of the layer of nanofibers opposite the base layer. A plate assembly for a lead-acid battery includes one or more multilayer composite sheets located adjacent or partially enclosing a lead plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: P. H. Glatfelter Company
    Inventor: William N. Justice
  • Patent number: 7972672
    Abstract: A laminated anti-fatigue area rug comprises a bottom laminate of anti-fatigue material being rubber or vinyl having anti-slip properties for stability, a top laminate of cork with an upper wearing surface having a polyurethane coating and a middle bonding laminate of fiberglass cloth and adhesive material to bond the layers together. There resulting rug is sufficiently flexible that it may be rolled for storage without cracking the cork or delaminating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Jason Allen
  • Patent number: 7968176
    Abstract: An air filter material includes a laminate of an air inlet layer and an air outlet layer, and has a mean flow pore size of 20 ?m to 40 ?m, a minimum pore size of 2.4 ?m to 3.8 ?m, and a maximum pore size of 80 ?m or less. The air inlet layer is a needle punched nonwoven fabric layer having an areal fiber weight of 55 g/m2 to 100 g/m2. The air outlet layer is a laminated spunlace nonwoven fabric made by laminating at least two or more spunlace nonwoven fabric layers having an areal fiber weight of 20 g/m2 to 60 g/m2, a mean flow pore size of 50 ?m to 90 ?m, a minimum pore size of 3.0 ?m to 10.0 ?m, and a maximum pore size of 180 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Dynic Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Umezu, Kazumasa Mizui
  • Patent number: 7947359
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laminated nonwoven fabric wherein the nonwoven fabric is a laminated one formed by integrating, through compressive bonding, a stacked nonwoven fabric structure comprising an upper and a lower thermoplastic synthetic filamentary fiber layer that have a fiber diameter from 7 ?m or more to 20 ?m, and an intermediate layer composed of thermoplastic synthetic fine fibers that have a fiber diameter of 5 ?m or less, the laminated nonwoven fabric having an intimately mixed structure in which a portion of the fine fibers is intruded into at least one face side of the filamentary fiber layers with an intrusion index of 0.36 or more to bond, surround or interlace the filamentary fibers, a basis of weight of from 10 g or more to 250 g/m2, and a bulk density of 0.20 g/cm3 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Fibers Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuji Suzuka, Mitsuji Nakakita
  • Patent number: 7947358
    Abstract: A method of producing basic starting material for the manufacture of fastener tabs intended for joining the side portions of the front and rear parts of an absorbent article. The method includes stretching a first sheet of elastic material in a first direction; applying a second and third sheet of material onto respective opposite sides of the first sheet; fastening the three material sheets together in at least two mutually separated zones that extend parallel with each other in one direction perpendicular to the first direction; dividing the first sheet in each region between two zones along a line lying therebetween, whereby the first sheet contracts to a non-stretched state, and thereafter fastening the sheets together in each region between two zones. The invention also relates to an arrangement for carrying out the method, to starting material for producing fastener tabs, and to such a tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Robert Kling
  • Patent number: 7927684
    Abstract: A HVAC system of a motor vehicle includes a film having openings defined therein and moveable between open and closed positions. The film regulates airflow by opening and closing apertures defined in a housing of the HVAC system. The film is disposed in a film valve assembly containing first and second rollers that wind and unwind the film. The film includes a substrate that includes a fiber selected from the group of polyester-based fibers, glass-based fibers, and combinations thereof. An elastomeric layer is disposed on the substrate layer. The substrate also includes a silicone layer disposed on the elastomeric layer for minimizing noise created as the film moves between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Comeaux, Frank M. Keese
  • Patent number: 7919173
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a papermaker's or industrial fabric requires the application of a polymeric resin material onto preselected locations on a base substrate using an array which deposits the polymeric resin material in droplets having an average diameter of 10? (10 microns) or more. The preselected locations, for example, may be knuckles formed by the interweaving of the yarns making up the fabric or interstices between the yarns. The purpose of such precise application of the resin is to control functional properties of the fabric, such as permeability and abrasion resistance. The polymeric resin material is set by means appropriate to its composition, and, optionally, may be abraded to provide the polymeric resin material above the surface plane of the base substrate with a uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Francis L. Davenport, Charles E. Kramer, Joseph G. O'Connor, Maurice Paquin
  • Patent number: 7901752
    Abstract: A belt designed for lead acid battery plate pasting that is rendered dimensionally stable and incompressible and is also rendered hydrophobic to allow water handling without absorption and subsequent contamination of lead oxide into the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Mark J. Levine
  • Patent number: 7892632
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a product and a method for preparing same. The product is an electrically conducting metallized fibers and a non-conducting composite containing the metallized fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the product is a composite of metallized cellulose fibers disposed in an electrically non-conducting matrix. The method includes the steps of hydrating cellulose fibers to prevent absorption of chemical reagents; activating the cellulose surface of the fibers for metal deposition; removing from the fibers excess activator and reagents used in the activation; drying the fibers to a free-flowing condition whereby the fibers acquire the color of the activator by virtue of its deposition on the fibers; metallizing the fibers to deposit thereon a metal capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation; drying the metallized fibers whereby they are free-flowing; and forming a composite composed of an electrically non-conductive matrix having dispersed therein the matallized fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Daniel Zabetakis, Paul E Schoen, Michael A. Dinderman
  • Patent number: 7858544
    Abstract: A hydroengorged spunmelt nonwoven formed of thermoplastic continuous fibers and a pattern of fusion bonds. The nonwoven has either a percentage bond area of less than 10 percent, or a percentage bond area of at least 10% wherein the pattern of fusion bonds is anisotropic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: First Quality Nonwovens, Inc.
    Inventors: Mordechai Turi, Michael Kauschke
  • Patent number: 7829479
    Abstract: A production process which comprises a preform formation step of forming a fiber preform made of silicon carbide short fibers having heat resistance of 1000° C. or greater; a sol-gel preparation step of preparing a sol-gel solution containing a heat resistant compound having heat resistance of 1000° C. or greater; an impregnation-drying-calcination step of impregnating the fiber preform with the sol-gel solution, followed by drying and calcining; and a crystallization step of crystallizing the fiber preform after impregnation, drying and calcination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Oishi, Yoshizumi Tanaka, Norifumi Miyamoto, Michiyuki Suzuki, Mitsuhiko Sato
  • Patent number: 7824762
    Abstract: A laminate is disclosed that comprises at least two layers of fibrous nonwoven mats in which the majority of the fibers in at least one of the mats are glass fibers, the layers being bonded together with an adhesive, needling, stitch bonding or a mixture of two or more of these bonding techniques, one of the mats having a basis weight of at least 3 lbs. per 100 sq. ft and at least 1.5 times the basis wt. of the other mat. The laminates are especially useful in making acoustical panels for office partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventor: Paul Francis Ziegler