Patents Examined by Monica A. Fontaine
  • Patent number: 6699420
    Abstract: A connector (1) with rear holders, which connector comprises a housing (2) having a plurality of terminal housing chambers (3), and the rear holders (20a) and (20b) which are laid across the housing (2) and temporarily and regularly retained in the housing. One of the rear holders (20a) and (20b) includes a retaining hole (22) and a retaining pawl (23). On each side of the housing exist a temporarily retaining projection (4) having a tapered surface (5) over the whole of its surface, and a tapered retaining step (6). A stooping contact face (7) is also provided on the surface of the rear end portion of the housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Motohisa Kashiyama
  • Patent number: 6695606
    Abstract: An extrusion apparatus for extruding visco-elastic materials includes an extruder head for preliminary shaping of a visco-elastic melt and a splice bar die assembly for final shaping of the visco-elastic melt. Both the extruder head and the die assembly have flow channels that include low elongational flow zones where elongational flow is reduced and controlled, thereby reducing and controlling the resulting shrinkage of the extrudate. Extrudate shrinkage can also be reduced and controlled by controlling the die swell of the visco-elastic melt by rotating the roller at a selected roller speed less than the melt speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Gary Robert Burg, Steven John Deren, Richard David Vargo
  • Patent number: 6696011
    Abstract: A plastic product, and method and device for producing such plastic products are disclosed. The present invention produces a plastic product having a completely sealed sidewall defining at least one cavity therein, or a plastic product filled with a filler, such as urethane foam, in the cavity, or a plastic product having both a sidewall with both open end portions and a filler contained in the cavity. The plastic forming process and device of this invention effectively produces a variety of plastic products, such as a variety of panels, pipes, channels, columns, boats, oil tanks, door panels, vehicle door panels, bumpers, vehicle hoods, and small-sized submarines, which are not produced by conventional plastic forming processes or devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventors: Sun Young Yun, Jae Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 6692668
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing pellets of hot-melt ink which solidifies with a cooling rate-dependent shrinkage, comprising the steps of filling molten ink into a mold formed by two mold dies, allowing the ink to cool down and to solidify in the mold, and opening the mold and removing the ink pellet therefrom, wherein in the cooling step, the ink is shock-cooled with a cooling rate that results in a shrinkage sufficient to cause the solidifying ink to separate from at least one of the mold dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Jozef Antonius Ogrinc, Wilhelmus Antonius Maria Schreurs
  • Patent number: 6689302
    Abstract: An antimicrobial tympanostomy tube used to alleviate bacteriostatic infections following myringotomy which is compatible with otologic tissue associated with the middle ear. The tube is formed from a microporous thermoplastic or thermoset resin having incorporated therein 0.5 to about 15% by weight of a silver compound capable of migrating to the surface of tube sidewalls to impart a therapeutically effective level of antibacterial activity throughout the sidewall surface so as to provide long-term prevention of infections which may otherwise result during or after surgery or implantation of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Reisdorf, James B. Hissong
  • Patent number: 6689303
    Abstract: An injection molding apparatus includes a vessel, mold, pusher, and thrust providing section. The vessel stores a molding material and has a nozzle hole which is formed in the bottom portion to inject the molding material and a first seal surface formed around the nozzle hole. The mold is made up of stacked members stacked on the lower side of the vessel and is filled with the molding material injected from the vessel. The mold has a sprue communicating with the nozzle hole and a second seal surface formed around the sprue. The stacked members respectively have third seal surfaces at portions where the members are in contact with each other. The pusher pressurizes the molding material in the vessel. The thrust providing section provides a thrust to the pusher to pressurize one of the pusher and the mold through the molding material in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Seki, Nobuyuki Sugiyama, Shingo Ogawa, Naoki Oguro
  • Patent number: 6685873
    Abstract: A production method is disclosed for separating integrally attached gutter flash from a blow-molded thermoplastic resin product utilizing tensile forces applied to the gutter flash while the product is fully restrained within the closed co-operating product mold in which the product is formed, as well as different embodiments of apparatus suitable for accomplishing the production method in a conventional industrial blow-molding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Bruce V. Weeks
  • Patent number: 6685862
    Abstract: An efficient method for making a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat is molded in a mold set which includes a base element and a series of upper elements with the cover supported in the mold cavity and layers of resins being molded thereon. The resultant seat, which is particularly well-suited for use on motorcycles, includes a cover, a cellular cushioning layer self-bonded directly to the cover, a generally ring-shaped support element disposed on the cellular cushioning layer, and a seat base layer self-bonded directly to the cellular cushioning layer and the skirt portion of the cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Corbin Pacific, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Hanagan
  • Patent number: 6682690
    Abstract: A core rod positioning device and method for controlling the distribution of material in products formed by injection blow molding machines is provided. The core rod positioning device has a sleeve having an outer surface defining an interior surface of an article molded using the core rod assembly. The sleeve also has an interior surface and a mandrel is located within the sleeve. Portions of the mandrel define a first passageway therethrough and which terminates at a port located in the exterior surface of the mandrel. The exterior surface of the mandrel cooperates with the interior surface of the sleeve thereby defining a second passageway between the sleeve and the mandrel. An adjustment mechanism is operably coupled to the mandrel allowing the mandrel to be adjusted laterally relative to the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Schmalbach-Lubreca AG
    Inventor: Dwayne G. Vailliencourt
  • Patent number: 6676864
    Abstract: Molding material consisting of resin coated reinforcing fibers in a molten mass of resin and fibers is prepared at a molding site for controlled supply to a molding machine. A conveying device, such as a pair of pinch rollers, serves to pull fibers from supply spools through guide orifices of a coating die having a chamber within which the fiber is coated with molten resin. Further impregnation of the fibers with resin takes place in the conveying device, which also develops pressure on its output side serving to push the mass of hot resin and fiber into a receiving device for movement to a molding machine. The receiving device may be the feed screw for an injection molding machine or simply a plate movable to and from a compression molding machine. The fibers may be cut into predetermined lengths by a cutting device positioned downstream of the aforesaid conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Woodshed Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald C. Hawley
  • Patent number: 6673282
    Abstract: A stationary die is held on the front surface of a stationary platen and a movable die is held on the front surface of a movable platen. A plurality of monitoring sections are set in advance within a moving range of the movable platen and an upper limit of forward thrust of the movable platen is set for each of the monitoring sections. When the forward thrust of the movable platen reaches the upper limit set in one of the monitoring sections during a die closing operation, it is determined that abnormality occurs to stop the movable platen from moving forward. If a die closing mechanism is of a toggle link type, the forward thrust of the movable platen is calculated based on the thrust of a crosshead which drives a toggle link mechanism, the moving speed of the crosshead, and the moving speed of the movable platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruyuki Matsubayashi, Takamitsu Yamashita, Takashi Yamazaki, Motoyuki Miyauchi, Yutaka Yamaguchi, Masamitsu Suzuki, Makoto Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 6673299
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing pellets of hot-melt ink which includes the steps of filling molten ink into a mold cavity defined by a first die and a second die of a mold, allowing the ink to cool down and solidify in the mold cavity, and heating at least one of the first and second dies for re-melting the surface of the ink pellet to facilitate its removal from the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Hollands, Wilhelmus Antonius Maria Schreurs, Guido Gerardus Willems, Antonius Johannes Jozef Van Gerven, Reinier Jan Ramekers
  • Patent number: 6673302
    Abstract: A process for blowing a balloon from a tubular parison of a thermoplastic polymer material by radially expanding the parison at an elevated temperature and pressure, the process characterized in that: a) the polymer material includes a “H-bonding” polymer which undergoes interchain hydrogen bonding between at least some segments thereof; b) the parison is conditioned in a high moisture environment prior to blowing, and c) the balloon is blown after moisture conditioning of the parison and without an intervening drying thereof. H-bonding polymers may be polyamides, polyurethanes or block copolymers containing a polyamide or polyurethane block. The process reduces occurrence of fish eye defects in the formed balloons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiao Wang, Mona Dahdah, Ron Drake, Daniel Horn
  • Patent number: 6673283
    Abstract: An adjustable core pin, and method of use thereof, for molding vials for use in levels, including an elongate rod with a barrel-shaped distal section having a crest at its cross section with the greatest diameter and a rod retainer with a cavity which receives the rod such that the distal end of the rod projects from a rod retainer distal opening, the rod being adjustable in relation to the rod retainer so that the crest can be adjustably placed at a preferred position in a molding cavity for vial molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Empire Level Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph B. Coel, Roger D. Stanford
  • Patent number: 6669877
    Abstract: This invention provides a method which makes it possible to reliably detect malfunctions during the ejecting step without rendering the injection molding machine more complicated. An ejector pin is incorporated in the movable die. This ejector pin is connected, via an ejector plate, a connecting rod, a connecting plate and a feed screw, with a servo motor. The force for ejecting the ejector pin pushing a molded product is measured from the driving torque of a servo motor. In this invention, the relationship between driving torque and elapsed time from the initiation of ejection of the molded product is stored as a reference pattern. The tolerance limit and monitoring interval of driving torque are preset relative to the reference pattern. When the value of driving torque falls outside the tolerance limit during the ejecting step, it is judged as a malfunction, and an alarm is generated to stop the machine in a safe state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruyuki Matsubayashi, Akira Kanda, Takamitsu Yamashita, Takashi Yamazaki, Yukio Iimura, Yutaka Yamaguchi, Masamitsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6663813
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a rotary cooling station to be used in conjunction with a high output injection molding machine and a robot having a take-out plate. More particularly, the present invention teaches a high speed robot that transfers warm preforms onto a separate rotary cooling station where they are retained and internally cooled by specialized cores. The preforms may also be simultaneously cooled from the outside to speed up the cooling rate and thus avoid the formation of crystallinity zones. Solutions for the retention and ejection of the cooled preforms are described. The rotary cooling station of the present invention may be used to cool molded articles made of a single material or multiple materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Witold Neter
  • Patent number: 6660194
    Abstract: A process for preparing a dental prosthesis is disclosed, including preparing a wax pattern of an objective dental prosthesis based on a duplicated model having an intraoral shape, investing the wax pattern in an investment material, and removing the wax pattern to prepare a mold, wherein a composite resin is charged under pressure into the mold, and the composite resin is cured under heat and pressure, the process of the present invention enables one to obtain a dental prosthesis that has suitable esthetics and superior mechanical properties and free from fear of pulp irritation by the unpolymerized monomer, and particularly suitable for the preparation of inlays, crowns, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: GC Corporation
    Inventor: Akishi Arita
  • Patent number: 6652796
    Abstract: In manufacturing glass fiber-reinforced resin moldings a peroxide is mixed into a molding material prepared by mixing glass fibers with a thermoplastic resin, and such a molding material is molded. The peroxide is fed together with the molding material in an injection molding machine, the molding material is heated and kneaded in the molding machine, and the glass fiber mixed molten resin is injected into a mold to obtain a molded body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kishimoto Sangyu Co Ltd
    Inventors: Takeshi Moriwaki, Toshiharu Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 6649121
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making laminated bottles each having an outer layer and an inner layer capable of delaminating from the former layer. The method consists of the step of injection molding an outer preform from a molten first resin, and the next step of injection molding an inner preform inside the outer preform, using a molten second resin. The method further has the final step of blow molding a parison composed of the outer and inner preforms so as to form each laminated bottle. The second resin has a melting point lower than that of the first resin, nevertheless and contrarily to the prior art, precise parisons affording satisfactory lamination can now be prepared by the injection molding steps. In addition, ventilation holes are formed in the outer layer readily and surely without damaging the inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Taisei Kako Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Hamamoto, Hirokazu Mihashi
  • Patent number: 6649118
    Abstract: An in-mold labeler (24) and a method for in-mold labeling a rotary plastic blow molding machine (22) includes a dispensing assembly (38) having a dispensing wheel (42) that is rotatably mounted on a base (40) and supports a plurality of dispensing head assemblies (46) each of which includes a support (48) and a dispensing head (50). An actuator (56) including a first cam mechanism (58) and a second cam mechanism (64) moves the support (48) of each dispensing head assembly (46) along the rotary path of movement of an adjacent open mold (30) of the blow molding machine and angularly positions the support in alignment with a moving mold parting plane of the adjacent open mold in a manner that permits high speed operation of the in-mold labeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault