Patents Examined by Kevin R. Kruer
  • Patent number: 11969746
    Abstract: Provided is a method of coating at least an area of a surface by a Drop-on-Demand (DOD) method, comprising the steps of providing a DOD dispensing head (1) with at least two individually controllable nozzles (2) arranged in a row, which is moved by a robotic device, applying a movement to the DOD dispensing head parallel while maintaining a distance between the nozzles (2) and the surface, wherein the movement comprises a rotation of the dispensing head around an axis perpendicular to the surface, dispensing discrete amounts of a the liquid coating material through the at least one nozzle onto the surface, wherein firing of the at least 2 nozzles is triggered non-synchronously by a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES SA
    Inventor: Burkhard Büstgens
  • Patent number: 11958209
    Abstract: A delignified wood material is formed by removing substantially all of the lignin from natural wood. The resulting delignified wood retains cellulose-based lumina of the natural wood, with nanofibers of the cellulose microfibrils being substantially aligned along a common direction. The unique microstructure and composition of the delignified wood can provide advantageous thermal insulation and mechanical properties, among other advantages described herein. The thermal and mechanical properties of the delignified wood material can be tailored by pressing or densifying the delignified wood, with increased densification yielding improved strength and thermal conductivity. The chemical composition of the delignified wood also offers unique optical properties that enable passive cooling under solar illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
    Inventors: Liangbing Hu, Tian Li, Jianwei Song, Chaoji Chen
  • Patent number: 11948710
    Abstract: A non-oriented electrical steel sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is a non-oriented electrical steel sheet including a base metal steel sheet and a composite coating film that is formed on surfaces of the base metal steel sheet and includes Zn-containing phosphate and an organic resin, wherein the non-oriented electrical steel sheet contains crystalline aluminum phosphate showing diffraction lines belonging to ICDD No. 01-074-3256 when the composite coating film is measured by a wide-angle X-ray diffraction method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Fujii, Jun Maki, Kazutoshi Takeda, Akira Akagi, Yuya Fujii
  • Patent number: 11891552
    Abstract: There is provided a weather proof pressure sensitive adhesive tape composition having 15 years or more dwell time in ambient conditions, comprising ambient humidity in the range of RH 30% to 100% RH including aggressive under water conditions, ambient pressures in the range of 0.75 bar to 1.5 bar at normal temperature, ambient temperature in the range of (?) 30° C. to 75° C. at normal pressure, ambient acidity and alkalinity in the range of pH 4.5 to pH 10.5 in water, ambient salinity of water in under water conditions of up to 1.2 mole equivalent of sodium chloride and ambient surface fluid resistance of up to 2.7×10?3 cubic meter per second per meter contact edge of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Ashok Shukla
  • Patent number: 11884603
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes a high-speed intensive mixer in a fluidizing-type, solid-phase, neutralization reactor to blend solid-state alkali hydroxide with any humic acid sources. The final product is a dry humic acid salt. The purpose of this innovative method is to eliminate a series of complicated unit operations commonly employed by the traditional process. These removed steps may include dissolving caustic soda, mixing in a paste-like formation, extrusion, granulation, drying, and grinding, etc. The invention contributes to a simplified flowsheet, resulting in sharply reduced equipment investment, plant space, and labor and energy costs. All of these factors coupled with increased productivity will drastically lower the overall production cost. Also, the reduction of dust pollution will greatly minimize the impact in environmental protection and safety issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: James Chin Cheng Yang
  • Patent number: 11820111
    Abstract: A tile comprising the following components: A) a first film formed from a first composition comprising the following: i) a functionalized olefin-based polymer comprising one or more chemical groups selected from the following: a) a carboxylic acid, and/or b) an anhydride, and, optionally, c) an amino or an amine; and ii) a functionalized styrenic block copolymer, comprising, in polymerized form, styrene, and ethylene and/or at least one alpha-olefin, and comprising one or more chemical groups selected from the following: a) a carboxylic acid, and/or b) an anhydride; and B) a substrate comprising at least one layer formed from a second composition comprising a propylene-based polymer; and wherein the first film covers at least one surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Susan G. Brown, Qichun Wan, Ronald J. Weeks, Mark T. Jablonka, Rennisha R. Wickham, Colin LiPiShan, Miguel Alberto de Jesus Prieto
  • Patent number: 11815111
    Abstract: Microstructured surface development three dimensional form solutions that provide multiple functional benefits when applied to an object. Microstructured surface development three dimensional form solutions that provide efficiency gains to an object in dynamic motion in a fluid medium through aerodynamic/hydrodynamic skin friction drag reduction. Microstructured surface development three dimensional form solutions that additionally provide functional benefits to an object in a static, non-moving state as well as a dynamic state—namely super-hydrophobicity, light absorption, sound/radar absorption and heat dissipation. Microstructured surface development three dimensional form solutions that can be molded into the surface of an object. Microstructured surface development three dimensional form solutions that can be added to the surface of an object though a secondary forming operation (ie machining, laser engraving).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Bruce Preston Williams
  • Patent number: 11802333
    Abstract: A cutting tool comprising a substrate and a coating film disposed on the substrate, wherein the coating film comprises a first layer; the first layer has a thickness of 0.2 ?m or more and 9 ?m or less; the first layer is composed of Ti(1-x-y)AlxMyN, wherein M is at least one element such as zirconium; in the first layer, x and y change along the thickness direction of the first layer; a maximum value of x, xmax, is 0.20 or more and 0.70 or less; a minimum value of x, xmin, is 0 or more and 0.6 or less; xmax and xmin satisfy 0.01?xmax?xmin?0.7; a maximum value of y, ymax, is 0.01 or more and 0.20 or less; a minimum value of y, ymin, is 0 or more and 0.19 or less; and ymax and ymin satisfy 0.01?ymax?ymin?0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC HARDMETAL CORP.
    Inventors: Hironari Moroguchi, Yuki Tsutsumiuchi, Satoru Kukino
  • Patent number: 11794381
    Abstract: A laser-debondable composition includes an acrylic resin, a light-shielding material, an additive, and a solvent. Wherein, the acrylic resin includes at least one nitrogen-containing organic group selected from a group consisting of tertiary amino groups and secondary amino groups, an organic group having a cyclic ether group, and an organic group having a hydroxyl group, and the additive includes at least one adhesion promoter. The laser-debondable composition has excellent adhesion ability to a substrate, attachability, and solvent resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DAXIN MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-Yun Chiu, Cheng-Wei Lee, Chi-Yen Lin
  • Patent number: 11760056
    Abstract: Flexible foam resistive heaters prepared with conductive coatings are described. The invention also includes methods of making flexible lead (busbar) connections with low contact resistance for superior uniformity and lower power utilization than conventional technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Katherine Palmer, Amy M. Heintz, Brett R. Burton, Scott Danhof, Jeff Ellis
  • Patent number: 11745918
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a liner made to fit and have direct contact within the warming dish of a wax warmer to serve the purpose of receiving, melting, cooling, remolding, removing, storing, re-using and safely discarding scented wax. The wax may be removed from the liner by method of flexibly release the cooled wax from its edges and base. The emptied liner may then be reused, disposed or recycled. The present invention is shaped to fill a variety of wax warmer designs, as well as for structural stability for multiple uses or branding purposes. Such contours on the sides and bottom of the liner help prevent the formation of condensation or vacuum forming, which can hinder both the removal and release of the liner from the receiving portion of a wax warmer or warming platform and aid in the removal of the solidly formed wax from within the liner itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Rebecca Ann Treadway Fancher
  • Patent number: 11731400
    Abstract: A microwave heatable composite material that comprises: a heat resistant moldable base material; a microwave heatable material dispersed in the heat resistant moldable base material; and a phase change material dispersed in the heat resistant moldable base material. The mixture of the microwave heatable material, heat resistant moldable base material, and phase change material provide a basic or core microwave heatable article layer to which one or more additional controlled heat releasing and/or heat transfer blocking layers can be combined to enhance and optimize heat therapy. In addition, the microwave heatable articles of the present invention can be used for cold therapy by lowering their temperatures in a freezer of similar cold environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: David Ross
  • Patent number: 11718459
    Abstract: An interlocking wrap for covering an outer surface of an object provides desirable qualities to complex tube shapes using a flat piece of material. The wrap may cover tubes, handles, rods, or hoops, in their many examples. Existing adhesive technologies applied to the back of the material, combined with the formation of the material into a series of three or more offset tabs that interlock when folded together in the prescribed alternating order at their meeting points, creates a cover that is pleasing to the eye, protective, and durable to frictional use. The tabs overlap one over the next in similar fashion to a zipper or a braid, only leaving the bottom tab exposed to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TredWear LLC
    Inventors: Michael Steven Hunt, Jr., Lee James Clayton
  • Patent number: 11674336
    Abstract: A restraint apparatus and system includes a rigid bracelet cuff separator connected to and between a pair lockable bracelet cuffs. The bracelet cuff separator is width-adjustable and the bracelet cuffs are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the bracelet separator. The system includes a leg restraint apparatus with a rigid separator connected to and between ankle cuffs. The ankle cuffs are joined distally to the rigid separator by multi-axis couplings that enable a restrained person to lift his or her feet a sufficient height in order to safely climb stairs or curbs. Sections of the bracelet separator and the leg restraint include portions configured to connect to a quick connect/disconnect coupling of a connector post. The handcuffing apparatus and the leg restraint apparatus may be employed separately of one another or independently of the connector post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: James A Conley
  • Patent number: 11652885
    Abstract: A system comprising a vaporizing device and a central server is described. The vaporizing device includes a housing and a cartridge, received within the housing, the cartridge including a predefined quantity of concentrate and an identification code associated with the concentrate and uniquely identifying the cartridge. The vaporizing device further includes a control unit configured to read the identification code. The vaporizing device further includes a communication unit configured to transmit the identification code to a computing device of a user. The central server includes a database. The central server is configured to receive the identification code from the computing device and retrieve concentrate information corresponding to the identification code from the database. The central server is configured to transmit the concentrate information to the computing device for displaying to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GoFire, Inc.
    Inventors: John Jesse Woodbine, Peter William Calfee, Christopher Bennett Carter, Gary Ross Mitchell, William F Demyanovich
  • Patent number: 11589709
    Abstract: Methods and devices to enhance cooking are described. A device to enhance cooking includes a shaft. The shaft has one end that is adapted to be outside an object and a second end to be inserted into the object. The shaft includes at least one opening that is coupled to the second end. The at least one opening of the shaft is configured to output at least a portion of the heat that travels through the first end of the shaft into the object to reduce a cooking time of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Anthony Intil
  • Patent number: 11560910
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for installing metallic fastener (10; 40) for the interference fit assembly of at least two structural elements (20, 22) comprising a through hole, the fastener comprising an enlarged head (12; 42), a shaft (14; 44) having an external diameter before installation that is greater than an internal diameter of the hole, said shaft comprising a conductive surface (26; 56). Before installation, at least the conductive surface (26; 56) is coated with a lubricating layer (30), which comprises a mixture of at least one polyolefin and one polytetrafluoroethylene, for example, having sufficient adherence to prevent its abrasion by manual manipulation of the fastener and being weak enough to be at least partly stripped from the conductive surface during the interference fit assembly of the fastener. The invention is applicable to the assembly of aircraft structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: LISI AEROSPACE
    Inventors: Laurent Bourges, Johan Stephan, Christophe Van Daele
  • Patent number: 11497837
    Abstract: A longitudinal extending body with oriented fibers comprised of an organic compound, preferably cellulose fibers, with a hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer having absorbable and non res sorbable qualities in the body, with an internal construction to promote cell growth. The longitudinal body has at least one wall having oriented fiber to include cellulose fiber extending the length of said body. This extending body has a surface that is smooth to the touch for additional processing methods such as machining, compression molding and 3 D printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Innovative Plastics and Molding, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Curt Joyce
  • Patent number: 11486108
    Abstract: Reinforcing layers each have a cord angle set to 25° or greater and 45° or less when a body is in a neutral state. When the body is loaded with a specified internal pressure, intermediate rubber layers disposed between adjacent sets in which cords of the reinforcing layers extend in an intersecting direction are shear-deformed, the cord angle increases approximately to a stable angle of repose, and the expanded body maintains a predetermined shape. In each of the sets being formed of two reinforcing layers layered adjacently, the cords of the reinforcing layers extend in an identical direction at the predetermined cord angle. Since substantially no shear force acts on the intermediate rubber layers disposed between the reinforcing layers, the resistance when expanding the body decreases. This provides a pneumatic fender that expands more smoothly and ensures a predetermined shape when a body is loaded with a specified internal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBUR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kouko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 11479994
    Abstract: A restraint apparatus and system includes a rigid bracelet cuff separator connected to and between a pair lockable bracelet cuffs. The bracelet cuff separator is width-adjustable and the bracelet cuffs are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the bracelet separator. The system includes a leg restraint apparatus with a rigid separator connected to and between ankle cuffs. The ankle cuffs are joined distally to the rigid separator by multi-axis couplings that enable a restrained person to lift his or her feet a sufficient height in order to safely climb stairs or curbs. Sections of the bracelet separator and the leg restraint include portions configured to connect to a quick connect/disconnect coupling of a connector post. The handcuffing apparatus and the leg restraint apparatus may be employed separately of one another or independently of the connector post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: James A Conley