Patents Examined by Michael I. Poe
  • Patent number: 7037461
    Abstract: A method of stretching films in which all or a portion of the width of the film is cooled during or just after stretching so as to improve the uniformity of the film. The includes stretching a polymeric film in a tenter that grasps the film with a plurality of clips along the opposing edges of the film and propels the clips to thereby stretch the film. The tenter includes driven clips and idler clips, with at least one idler clip between respective pairs of driven clips. The cooling is done so as to improve the uniformity of the clip spacing relative to the spacing obtained at otherwise identical process conditions without such cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Martin E. Denker, Joseph T. Bartusiak, Anthony B. Ferguson, Thomas P. Hanschen, Jeffery N. Jackson, William Ward Merrill, Susan J. Newhouse, Fred J. Roska, Richard J. Thompson, Chiu Ping Wong
  • Patent number: 7025923
    Abstract: A thin-walled polymeric component that may have a selected complex shape, and a method of forming the component. The method includes heating a portion of a polymeric film to a selected malleable temperature, and forming a protrusion in the heated portion while it is malleable. The protrusion defines a protrusion having a first shape. The method also includes positioning a forming tool in the protrusion's interior and drawing a partial vacuum from within the protrusion so as to exert a force on the protrusion and move the protrusion's sidewalls inwardly into engagement with the forming tool. As the partial vacuum is drawn, the protrusion moves to a second shape that may be different than the first shape and that closely conforms to the selected shape of the forming tool. The protrusion is cooled below the malleable temperature and the forming tool is then removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Vision Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: E. Paul Harhen, James M. Goddard
  • Patent number: 7021919
    Abstract: A mold for forming blocks with at least one textured surface, the mold comprising a structure defining a cavity open at opposite ends thereof for receiving a block forming material at one of the open ends and discharging a block formed from the block forming material at the other of the open ends; and a continuous web surrounding at least a portion of the structure and movable relative to the structure for acting on the block forming material received within the cavity to impart a texture to a surface of the block, the web being mounted to move around the portion of the structure when the block is discharged from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Tom Griffith
  • Patent number: 7018577
    Abstract: A method of forming a liner for a passage such as a sewer includes forming panels composing the liner using a neat resin of a first density and a polymer concrete of a second, higher density. The neat resin is inserted into a mold cavity before the polymer concrete and is displaced upwardly by the polymer concrete pour to impregnate a fiber layer disposed along the periphery of the mold cavity. Resulting panels preferably have an offset joint to increase the joint strength between upper and lower panels forming the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corporation
    Inventors: Walter R. Bilgram, Lynn E. Osborn, James D. Caldwell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7001551
    Abstract: A method of forming a bone composite, comprising: providing bone tissue; grinding said bone tissue to form ground tissue; molding the ground bone tissue into a bone composite; applying a binder to the bone composite; applying a vacuum to the mold, and optionally milling or refining the bone composite to the desired shape. Additionally, bone tissue composites made therefrom are included. The composites may be, for example, a bone pin, screw, or prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Allograft Research Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Patent number: 6988880
    Abstract: Apparatus for highly reliably cutting a rubber strip (12) even when reinforcement cords are embedded therein, and for shaping the upper surfaces of the trailing end of a resultant rubber band member (15) and the leading end of the remaining rubber strip (12) to have a slope inclined with a small angle relative to the general plane of the rubber strip (12) or rubber band member (15). An anvil (20) and a press cutter/shaper (39) are arranged opposite to each other, and a cutting blade (38) is gradually inserted into an anvil groove (22), with at least one surface (38a, 38) of the blade (38) pressed against a periphery (22a) of the anvil groove (22). The cutting blade (38) protrudes from the boundary between inclined a pair of shaping surfaces (34, 35) towards the anvil 20, and has a cutting blade angle (F) that is smaller than angle (G) between the inclined shaping surfaces (34, 35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Adachi, Takao Urayama
  • Patent number: 6986656
    Abstract: A method and system of forming a fire door core are provided. Hydraulic binder and resin are supplied from raw material bins and mixed to provide a submixture. Exfoliated vermiculite is then mixed with the submixture to provide a mixture that is deposited into a plurality of compression molds. Each of the filled molds are pressed in a press at a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure for a predetermined period of time sufficient to harden the mixture into a hardened slab. The hardened slabs are then removed from the molds, impregnated with water or steam in a water impregnation assembly and dried in a drying assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Premdor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Hartley Moyes, Michael Windsor Symons
  • Patent number: 6973957
    Abstract: A mold shorter side frame of a continuous casting mold is exchanged integrally as it is to enable on-line change of the thickness of the case piece. As the method, a concave portion for engaging a portion of the moving device and an attaching/detaching mechanism having a fixing jig for fixing the portion of the moving device are disposed at the back of the shorter side frame. Particularly, an attaching/detaching mechanism comprising a concave forming portion having a downwarded opening and a bolt screw passing from the back of the concave forming portion through at least a portion of said portion of the moving device is suitable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Naito
  • Patent number: 6969476
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for casting a concrete product using two or more different grades of concrete mix, in which method predetermined amounts of different grades of concrete mix are delivered at appropriate instants into the feeder hopper of the slip-form casting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Consolis Technology Oy Ab
    Inventor: Leo Sandqvist
  • Patent number: 6936211
    Abstract: Methods for making a tubular device that has a rim disposed at one end thereof. In one method, a sleeve having an expandable profiling surface is inserted into an end of the tubular member, and the profiling surface is expanded to form a shoulder projecting outwardly from the tubular member adjacent the end of the tubular member. The profiling surface is collapsed inwardly away from tubular member, and a return margin is formed directed inwardly from the shoulder, distal the tubular member. In another method, return margin of the tubular device adjacent an end is folded inwardly and superposed on an inner surface of the tubular device adjacent the folded margin. A sleeve having an expandable profiling surface is inserted into the end of the tubular device, and the profiling surface is expanded to form the rim comprising a shoulder projecting outwardly from the tubular member and the return margin. As a result, the fold between the shoulder and the return margin defines an edge of the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt Binner, Gary Vogt
  • Patent number: 6932936
    Abstract: To provide manufacturing method for a double tube having a hole formed therein and a mold for implementing such method, which reduce the time required for manufacturing, do not leave shavings in the gap between the outer tube and the inner tube, and offer highly accurate hole positioning. The manufacturing method for a double tube having a hole formed therein pertaining to the present invention uses a mold in which a punch is located in at least one of the split mold halves that form the outer circumferential surface, an indentation is formed by drawing the punch into the mold, and fluid pressure is applied between the outer tube and the inner tube of the double tube located within the mold to form a hole in the circumferential wall of the outer tube via such indentation. Furthermore, the punch is placed in the mold in a watertight fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignees: Sanoh Industries Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Pipe & Tube Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ezure
  • Patent number: 6923929
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a waste block includes forming an outer housing by compressing soil material and engaging into and compressing a waste insert in the outer housing, for allowing the waste insert to be solidly and safely retained within the outer housing, and for preventing the waste insert from polluting the outer environment. The waste block may include one or more recesses or notches or juts or bulges for engaging with each other and for stably superposing a number of waste block together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Kang Chin Lin
  • Patent number: 6921501
    Abstract: A method of forming a circumferentially closed wall having the same cross-section over its entire length included providing at least two circumferentially closed inner falseworks each formed of circumferentially closed inner part and a circumferentially closed climbing strip releasably securable to an upper end of the main part. A concrete wall is formed in a plurality of concrete-placing steps, with use of the inner falseworks in more than one step. In a first concrete-placing step, an initial section of a concrete wall is formed. In each subsequent concrete-placing step, a circumferentially closed concrete wall section is formed on an upper end of an already formed section of the concrete wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Rund-Stahl-Bau Gesellschaftm.b.H.
    Inventor: Hugo Mathis
  • Patent number: 6916166
    Abstract: A mold for forming blocks with at least one textured surface, the mold comprising a structure defining a cavity open at opposite ends thereof for receiving a block forming material at one of the open ends and discharging a block formed from the block forming material at the other of the open ends; and a continuous web surrounding at least a portion of the structure and movable relative to the structure for acting on the block forming material received within the cavity to impart a texture to a surface of the block, the web being mounted to move around the portion of the structure when the block is discharged from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Tom Griffith
  • Patent number: 6916438
    Abstract: The texturing, patterning and bending of a solid surface material. The end product can be achieved both through casting technologies and heat pressure processes. Controlled surface deformation can be created in a pre-manufactured flat sheet and the sheet can then be heated and bent using conventional thermoforming technology. This contrasts considerably with the conventional norm, whereby an embossed solid surface sheet, when reheated, loses its embossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Allegheny Solid Surface Technologies
    Inventor: Russell E. Berry
  • Patent number: 6913717
    Abstract: A method of constructing a rail track in which a concrete track slab is produced and rail track anchor members are inserted in the track slab by an inserter system mobile along the route of the rail track includes the following steps: using a machine for continuously pouring concrete to produce two concrete walls laterally delimiting the edges of the track slab to be poured; pouring the concrete track slab between the walls; and using the inserter system to insert anchor members in the freshly poured track slab, the tie plate inserter system being adjusted accurately by a measuring station, topographical survey points, a measuring system, and reflectors carried by the inserter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Marc Sayadi, Yvan Skific
  • Patent number: 6911165
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a concrete slab in a substantially horizontal slip casting process method, concrete mix is fed into a mold through a delimited cross section moving progressively in the casting process so as to form a concrete product of a desired shape. Onto the surface of the casting bed (1) is placed a core (3, 9, 10, 11) capable of delimiting the cross section of the concrete product (5, 5?) so as to provide an opening or a provision for an opening in the bottom surface of the slab. A core is provided for obtaining an opening or a provision for an opening. The structure and/or material of the core is/are such that the core is capable of yielding in vertical direction. A core may also be a multipart core, the outer part of which becomes detached from the inner part of the core in conjunction with lifting off the concrete slab from the casting bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Consolis Technology Oy AB
    Inventors: Tarmo Sahala, Aimo Seppänen, Lassi Järvinen
  • Patent number: 6910796
    Abstract: A process and equipment for producing multi-color concrete products, including architectural concrete blocks, concrete bricks, modular concrete products that are suitable for use in landscaping applications, such as retaining wall blocks, concrete pavers, and concrete slabs. The invention includes a spray mechanism that sprays liquid pigment onto concrete discharged from a hopper. The concrete then proceeds to a blending mechanism which blends the pigment into the concrete to produce a multi-color concrete blend. The concrete blend is then used to produce multi-colored concrete products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W Bailey, Glenn C Bolles, Jeffrey C. Bader, David Matthew LaCroix
  • Patent number: 6908582
    Abstract: A process for producing a biodegradable and bioabsorbable implant material, which comprises forging a billet comprising and biodegradable and bioabsorbable crystalline polymer at a low temperature and then forging the same once more or in a plurality of times at a low temperature by changing its press-forcing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Takiron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shikinami, Masaki Okuno, Hiroshi Morii
  • Patent number: 6905647
    Abstract: Golf ball 1 includes a core 2 and a cover 3. The core 2 has two layers including a center 4 and a mid layer 5. The mid layer 5 is formed by covering the center 4 with two half shells comprising a rubber composition, and by compression and heating of the center 4 and half shells in a mold. The rubber composition contains solid particles dispersed therein. The solid particles have a ratio “D/T”, i.e., a ratio of the particle size D to the thickness of the mid layer T, of equal to or greater than 0.3. Upon molding, the solid particles inhibit the center 4 to approach a cavity face. Accordingly, deviation of mass of the mid layer 5 can be suppressed. The solid particles have a ratio “W/T”, i.e., a ratio of the radial width W thereof to the thickness of the mid layer T, of from 0.3 to 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Endo, Keiji Ohama