Patents Examined by Linda Gray
  • Patent number: 7021356
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing a roll of material such as a pressure sensitive adhesive tape. The apparatus includes an enclosable housing having a roll holding piece, a cover piece, and a hinge assembly for joining the roll holding piece and cover piece. The hinge assembly permits opening of the housing while the cover piece and roll holding piece remain connected by the hinge assembly. The apparatus also includes an applicator located proximate to the dispensing end for applying a material to a substrate; a discharge opening for the material, and a cutting member located proximate to the dispensing end for cutting the material. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful as a hand-held tape dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Johannes H. J. M. Kelders, Brian A. Vulpitta, Timothy S. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7022204
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate high in operating efficiency and yield. The apparatus includes a cutting unit for cutting at least a polarizing plate of a strip-shaped film, composed of the polarizing plate and a release film bonded to the polarizing plate, leaving the release film uncut, when a forward end side pre-severed end face of the strip-shaped film perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped film has traveled up to a length corresponding to a length of a substrate, to form a film piece, a release film separating unit for separating the release film from the film piece thus severed, and a bonding unit for bonding the tacky surface of the film piece freed of the release film to a mating position of the substrate so that the forward end side end face of the transported substrate is parallel to the pre-severed end face of the film piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kanbara, Naoki Sakai, Ryoichi Sugihara
  • Patent number: 7021354
    Abstract: Air conducting connector with simplified wiring layout and water-proofing. Connector 2 has air conduction path 3, having a first opening 3a and a second opening 3b. A heater wire 5, air conducting wire and terminal 6 of ECU side are inserted into the first opening 3a, while an air-conducting heater wire 7 and terminal 8 of sensor side are inserted into second opening 3b. Within the air conduction path 3, the ECU side terminal 6 and the sensor side terminal 8 are electrically interconnected. First opening 3a is sealed with resin. The rear part of the air conduction path 3 is sealed with a sealing material 8b. The sensor side terminal 8 and the ECU side terminal 6 are electrically interconnected on insertion to communicate an air conducting part of the sensor side heater wire 7 with an air conducting part of the ECU side heater wire 5 through air conduction path 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kobayashi, Shinji Kumazawa, Yoshinori Inoue
  • Patent number: 7018502
    Abstract: A label includes a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends. A base adhesive coats the lower surface of the base label. A top panel overlies the upper surface of the base label and is joined to the base label adjacent the first end. The top panel has an upper surface. A tab having upper and lower opposed surfaces overlies the upper surface of the base label. An adhesive patch is interposed between the base label and the tab adjacent the second end. The adhesive patch secures the lower surface of the tab to the upper surface of the base label. A laminate cover overlies the top panel and the tab. A laminate adhesive secures the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel and releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Pharmagraphics (Southeast), LLC
    Inventors: Carl W. Treleaven, Glenn A. Grosskopf
  • Patent number: 7017636
    Abstract: A mounting zone and a reflow zone are arranged in parallel between a loader and an unloader, and mounting and reflow processes are performed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masakuni Shiozawa
  • Patent number: 7018501
    Abstract: A see-through, one-way panel having a white opaque substrate with a dark pigmented adhesive on the rear side. The pigmented adhesive is covered with a release liner. The substrate, adhesive and liner are perforated and thereafter an imperforate barrier is laminated over the release liner. The front surface may be top coated to accept a dye based ink. The front surface is printed with an image by thermal or piezo ink jet printing technology. The resulting panel may then be adhesively applied to a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Stephen G. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7014728
    Abstract: Methods of applying tape to a surface. An embodiment of the invention provides a method of applying a tape to a surface, comprising the steps of: providing a tape, wherein the tape includes a tape backing and an adhesive on the tape backing, and wherein the tape is on a liner; cutting the tape to provide a first length of tape, a second length of tape, and a removable portion of the tape located between the first length of tape and the second length of tape wherein a portion of the first end of the removable portion is cut at an angle oblique to the length of the tape; removing the removable portion of the tape from the liner; separating the first length of tape from the liner; and applying the first length of tape to a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary K. Kuhn, Michael G. Slagter
  • Patent number: 7013942
    Abstract: A print producing apparatus of a print producing system is provided with a recording medium conveying section which intermittently conveys a strip-like hologram recording medium, a cutting out section which cuts out, as a piece of hologram recording medium, a predetermined region of the recording medium that includes at least a piece of a holographic stereogram image or a hologram from a hologram recording medium, a film retaining section and a film supplying section which one by one provides plural sheets of protecting film PF which are retained, a film opening and closing section which opens and folds a single sheet of the PF which has been folded in two along a folding line of the PF, a mounting retaining and supplying section which one by one provides plural sheets of mountings, and a laminating section which laminates the recording medium piece for hologram and the mounting with the PF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirakura, Hirotsuga Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7005028
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a cutting edge tape or a reinforcing tape to a substrate by feeding and cutting lengths of tape and advancing the lengths to a vacuum wheel applicator, the feed section of the apparatus comprising a feed roll, an anvil vacuum roll, and a rotary knife adjacent to the anvil vacuum roll, and means for adjusting the speed of the feed roll and the speed of the anvil vacuum roll to vary the length of the tape advanced to the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Adalis Corporation
    Inventors: Scott K. Middelstadt, James N. Hartman
  • Patent number: 7000665
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus and a method for assembly of electrochemical cells. The stacking apparatus includes at least one stacking head having an adjustable holding member adapted to hold an electrochemical laminate of a pre-determined length and means for adjusting the shape of the electrochemical laminate of the pre-determined length during stacking of a plurality of electrochemical laminates. The electrochemical laminates are assembled in a way that prevents air entrapment between the electrochemical laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Avestor Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael Parker, Gilles Gagnon
  • Patent number: 6998005
    Abstract: Method for forming a dye sublimation image in a substrate, particularly a plastic substrate, and apparatus to perform the method. According to the method taught by the present invention, a substrate is disposed on a perforated platen and a dye carrier having an image formed thereon of a dye sublimation ink is disposed on the substrate such that the image is in contact with the substrate. The substrate, dye carrier and at least a portion of the perforated platen are then covered with a flexible membrane. A clamping pressure is then applied to the substrate and the dye carrier through the membrane. Once the clamping pressure is attained, the substrate and dye carrier are first heated, then cooled. The invention disclosed herein further teaches a number of novel apparatus to effect the method, resulting in significantly superior dye sublimation imaging than heretofore attainable in rigid plastic sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fresco Plastics LLC
    Inventors: Ted N. Magee, Jonathan C. Drake, Rick Essert, Robert W. Shaw
  • Patent number: 6994766
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and design of a fusion welded pipe wherein the effects of an inner bead of the fusion weld are minimized. The internal shape of the pipe prior to welding may be configured in several different shapes so that the beads or lips produced by the fusion welding process are unobtrusive and do not interfere with the function of the pipe. In a likewise manner, the outer shape of the pipe prior to welding may be configured so that the lips are unobtrusive on the external surface of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: PE Fusion, LLC
    Inventor: William J. Temple
  • Patent number: 6989069
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing an optical information recording medium having a track pitch of 200 to 400 nm and a groove depth of 20 to 150 nm, and being capable of recording and reproducing using a light with a wavelength of 450 nm or less, the method at least including: a metal reflective layer forming step for forming a metal reflective layer on a substrate; a recording layer forming step for forming a recording layer of an organic dye type on said metal reflective layer; and a cover layer forming step for forming a cover layer on said recording layer; in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kakuta, Takako Ozawa, Toshio Ishida, Akira Mizuta
  • Patent number: 6984279
    Abstract: A method of making a pant having a front-to-back crotch seam includes providing a flat web. The flat web can be cut into separate pieces or cut to provide interconnected pieces and the center portion of each separate piece is removed. Slits are cut in each separate piece or each interconnected piece and the remaining attached segments are drawn away from each other in opposite directions to bring first and second seam edges together for the purpose of forming a garment shell with a crotch seam. The method may be applied to a single piece of material representing a single garment or to an interconnected web of garments. After forming the crotch seam, the garment shell can be folded and side seams formed. The pant may include an absorbent structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Heather Schenck Mortell, Joseph Daniel Coenen
  • Patent number: 6984429
    Abstract: A laminate from which decorative films can be precisely applied to a substrate. The laminate includes a polymeric cover sheet having opposite outer and inner major surfaces. A layer of structured pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered to the inner major surface of the cover sheet. The structured pressure sensitive adhesive has a plurality of spaced passageways extending to at least one edge of the layer of structured pressure sensitive adhesive. A decorative film is adhered to the structured pressure sensitive adhesive. A second layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered to the major surfaces of the decorative film opposite the layer of structured pressure sensitive adhesive. A release liner extends substantially across the second layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and a portion of the structured pressure sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kristin L. Thunhorst, James F. Pitzen
  • Patent number: 6984282
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of floral sleeves having a uniform design or pattern and printed about a lower end thereof without requiring the waste of significant portions of sheet material is provided. The method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of web portions along lines defined by coextensive first side edges and coextensive second side edges of decorative portions. In another aspect, the method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of overlapping web portions provided with a plurality of decorative portions along a plurality of lines which traverse the decorative portions and each of the corresponding undecorative portions to form a plurality of sleeves wherein each sleeve has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion having a decorative portion extending about the exterior circumference of the lower portion of the sleeve while the upper portion is free of any printing contained in the lower portion of an adjacently formed sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder and Willaim F. Straeter
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6981537
    Abstract: A tape splicing mechanism joins the tail of one tape to the leading edge of another tape. A frame defines a passageway along which the tape passes. A pair of arms rotatably attached to the frame have projecting posts and rotate between a first position where the posts are closer to the pathway and a second position where they are further from the pathway. The arms are urged toward the first position and a catch mechanism holds them in the second position until released by a release mechanism when a release indicia in the first tape passes. The leading edge of the second tape is looped around the first tape to form a loose knot and is tied to the post on each side of the first tape. When the arms are released they move to the second position and tighten the knot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Adhesives, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilles Cyr, Elvin Dalebout, Ronald L. Willadson
  • Patent number: 6979381
    Abstract: A frangible fiberglass insulation batt includes a pair of fiberglass strips arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to one another and a frangible polymerized binder bridge spanning a gap between the fiberglass strips and retaining the fiberglass strips in side-by-side relation. To produce such a batt, a stream of uncured fiberglass insulation is cut along its length to form two side-by-side fiberglass strips and then passed through a curing oven to cause heat generated in the oven to polymerize (cure) binder associated with the strips in the gap to form the frangible polymerized binder bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Knauf Fiber Glass GmbH
    Inventors: Jon Pereira, Ronald A. Houpt
  • Patent number: 6979380
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disposable undergarment includes moving a web of body panel material in a longitudinal machine direction and cutting the web of body panel material along the longitudinal machine direction to thereby form a rear body panel web and a front body panel web each having a maximum rise and a minimum rise respectively. The maximum rise of each of the rear and front body panel webs is greater than the minimum rise of a corresponding one of the rear and front body panel webs. The method further includes shifting at least one of the rear and front body panel webs in the longitudinal machine direction and thereby aligning the maximum rises of the rear and front body panel webs. The method further includes separating the rear and front body panels in a lateral cross direction, such that the maximum rises of each of the rear and front body panel webs are spaced apart in the lateral cross direction and form a gap therebetween in a non-overlapping relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell E. Thorson, Paul T. Van Gompel, Jennifer L. Marvin
  • Patent number: 6976521
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating the refastenable absorbent garment includes a web perforator adapted to perforate a base web in a cross direction and a construction drum positioned downstream of the web perforator and adapted to receive the perforated base web. A landing material cutter is adapted to cut a landing material and fastener material in the cross direction. A landing member rotator is positioned adjacent the construction drum and downstream of the landing material cutter. The landing member rotator is adapted to separate successive pieces of the landing material with the fastener material attached thereto at the cross direction landing material cut, rotate the pieces of landing material with the fastener member attached thereto and apply the piece of landing material and fastener material to the base web on the construction drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Mlinar, Jesse P. Sorenson, Kenneth J. Wagner