Patents Examined by Terrel Morris
  • Patent number: 6899957
    Abstract: An antireflection film is formed of an organic film, and a hard-coating layer, a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer laminated in this order on the organic film. The high refractive index layer is formed of metal oxide particles of ITO with electrical conductivity and TiO2 with high refractive index, and synthetic resin. A volume percentage of the TiO2 particles to a total volume of the TiO2 and ITO particles in the high refractive index layer is 1 to 60%, and a volume percentage of the metal oxide particles to a total volume of the metal oxide particles and the synthetic resin is 20% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishida, Shingo Ohno, Masato Yoshikawa, Nobuko Kato
  • Patent number: 6900148
    Abstract: A leather-like sheet material comprising a substrate layer composed of an entangled nonwoven fabric consisting of ultrafine fibers and an elastic polymer or elastomer filled therein and having, on one side (side A) of the substrate layer, a grain layer comprising an elastomer mainly consisting of a polyurethane, wherein the ultrafine fibers (a) constituting the side A of the substrate layer have a mean fineness substantially within the range of 0.01 to 0.5 decitex and the ultrafine fibers (b) substantially constituting the other side (side B) opposite to the side A of the substrate layer have a mean fineness of not more than ½ of the mean fineness of the ultrafine fibers (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yoneda, Yoshiki Nobuto, Kohei Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6896954
    Abstract: An automobile trim has a trim body (a base layer) formed of a rubber composition and having a design surface, a decorating layer formed of a thermoplastic elastomer composition and thermally bonded integrally with the design surface of the trim body. A thermal bonding layer is formed of a thermoplastic resin composition and interposed between the decorating layer and the trim body so that the decorating layer is thermally bonded integrally with the trim body through the thermal bonding layer. The thermal bonding layer has a thickness to an extent not to prevent bending flexibility when the trim is attached to a vehicle body. In another example, a cushion layer is laminated on the trim body and formed of sponge rubber of EPDM, a decorating layer is laminated on the cushion layer and formed by foaming olefin thermoplastic elastomer, and an olefin bonding layer for bonding the cushion layer and the decorating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Omori, Masanori Aritake
  • Patent number: 6897167
    Abstract: The thermal foot cover is an article of footwear to be worn when the wearer's foot is subjected to cold temperatures. The thermal foot cover has an upper cover portion attached to a bottom panel to define a cavity for insertion of a wearer's shoe-encased or boot-encased foot or a wearer's foot. The upper cover portion and the bottom panel are made from a material comprising an outer covering, a radiant barrier and a inner covering where the radiant barrier is sandwiched between the outer cover and the inner cover. The radiant barrier is the insulation system of the thermal foot cover, which reflects the wearer's body heat back inside the footwear and keeps the wearer's feet warm. The thermal foot cover is flexible, lightweight and readily washable due to the use of the radiant barrier as the insulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Dave W. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6897168
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to triggerable, water-dispersible cationic polymers. The present invention is also directed to a method of making triggerable, water-dispersible cationic polymers and their applicability as binder compositions. The present invention is further directed to fiber-containing fabrics and webs comprising triggerable, water-dispersible binder compositions and their applicability in water-dispersible personal care products, such as wet wipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly D. Branham, Yihua Chang, Frederick J. Lang, Erin McBride, Clay Bunyard
  • Patent number: 6893717
    Abstract: A heat-transfer label (11) including a non-wax, non-silicone release layer or coating (17) for use in decorating an article, such as a glass container, without leaving a visually discernible release residue on the decorated article. In a preferred embodiment, the label includes a transfer portion (21), the transfer portion comprising a protective lacquer layer (23), an ink design layer (25) over the protective lacquer layer, and a heat-activatable adhesive layer (27) over the ink design and protective lacquer layers. The label also includes a support portion (13), the transfer portion being positioned over the support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article under conditions of heat and pressure. The support portion comprising a carrier layer (15) and a release layer or coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Inventors: Kuolih Tsai, John W. Geurtsen, James S. Nugent
  • Patent number: 6890617
    Abstract: A porous adhesive sheet 1 having plural through holes 2 running in about parallel with each other in the thickness direction A of an adhesive organic film 3, wherein the through holes have about congruent sections in the diameter direction from one opening 2a to the other opening 2b and a production method thereof, and a semiconductor wafer with a porous adhesive sheet 31, which includes a semiconductor wafer 32 having an electrode 33, the porous adhesive sheet 1 adhered to the semiconductor wafer, and a conductive part 34 formed by filling a through hole 2 located on the electrode 33 with a conductive material, and a production method thereof are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Miho Yamaguchi, Yuji Hotta
  • Patent number: 6887554
    Abstract: A multi-ply tissue product has several plies (2, 3, 4, 5) The multi-ply configuration is made by at least one folding (a; b; c) of at least one ply sheet (P) of tissue material in order to reduce the possibilities of delamination and to make the product flexible simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products GmbH
    Inventors: Urban Widlund, Emmanuelle Morin, Anders Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 6878437
    Abstract: A thermoplastic multi-layer composite structure is disclosed and in a first embodiment as a co-extruded acrylic polypropylene outer skin and high melt strength polypropylene substrate which is attracted to a first surface of a polypropylene foam core. An inner polypropylene skin is attached to a second surface of the foamed core, which can either be constructed from an expanded polypropylene or an extruded polypropylene and is attached to the outer and inner skin through the use of an adhesive. Where an extruded polypropylene foam core is provided, the skins can be attached to the foam core by adhesives or through a welding or bonding process in lieu of adhesives. Additionally, the extruded foam core can vary in density to provide a composite foam core. An all acrylic composite multi-layered structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Crane
  • Patent number: 6875711
    Abstract: A friction material has a first layer of a base material and a second layer of at least one type of friction modifying particle having substantially symmetrical geometric shapes on a top surface of the base material. The second layer has an average thickness of about 30 to about 200 microns and the surface area coverage of about 80 to about 100% such that the top layer has a fluid permeability lower than the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Yih-Fang Chen, Robert C. Lam, Feng Dong, Bulent Chavdar
  • Patent number: 6875710
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing composite webs including a substrate with one or more reinforcing discrete polymeric regions located on or within the composite web are disclosed. Molten nonelastomeric thermoplastic material of the discrete polymeric region is forced against the substrate by a transfer roll. If the substrate is porous, fibrous, etc., a portion of the nonelastomeric thermoplastic composition may infiltrate the substrate and/or encapsulate fibers of the substrate. The composite webs also include elastomeric thermoplastic material in discrete polymeric regions on or within the composite web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bradley W. Eaton, Byron M. Jackson, Leigh E. Wood, Scott J. Tuman
  • Patent number: 6875487
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat-setting label sheet that is a polymeric transfer sheet that can be marked and transferred by the consumer. Also encompassed by the present invention is a method of transferring the heat-setting label sheets. The heat-setting label sheets of the present invention comprise a support; an optional pressure sensitive adhesive layer; an Adhesion Layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer which melts in the range of 50-250° C., a wax which melts in the range of 50-250° C., or combinations thereof; an optional opaque layer comprising a styrene-butadiene latex, thermoplastic polymer, elastomer, and optional pigment; and a second optional opaque layer comprising vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer, thermoplastic elastomer, elastomer and optional pigment. The heat-setting label sheet of the present invention can be imaged by an electrostatic printer or copier, ink jet printer, offset or screen printing, craft-type marking, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Foto-Wear, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Williams, Heather Reid
  • Patent number: 6866926
    Abstract: A seal and method of manufacture is provided for sealing containers such as bottles, jars and the like. The seal (closure) can be formed with a lower sheetlike structure having a foam layer thereon. The lower structure can include foil and have a polymer layer, such as a PET layer thereunder A sealant layer can be provided under the bottom surface of the PET layer to bond the seal to a container opening. The polymer foam is advantageously polyethylene foam. Seals in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention also include a top portion, which can be only partially bonded (directly or indirectly) to the bottom portion, so as to leave a tab portion extended therefrom. The top portion is advantageously bonded from periphery to periphery of the bottom portion and at or slightly offset from the diameter (middle) of the bottom portion. The top portion is advantageously formed with polymer material, such as an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) layer, having a layer of PET bonded on the top thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Smelko, Marilyn Agnoluzzi
  • Patent number: 6863972
    Abstract: The present invention is a component having a synthetic wood layer that is secured to a foamed polymer layer. The foamed polymer layer is comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, low density polyethylene, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ethyl-vinyl acetate, and polystyrene. The component can be used for a variety of different purposes such as fencing, furniture, cabinets, storage devices, lawn edging, flower boxes, flooring, roofing, wall covering, building siding, basement flooring, basement wall covering, interior and exterior decorative house moldings, crown moldings, chair rails, picture frames, porch decks, deck railings, window moldings, window components, door components, door moldings, various other lawn and garden uses, various other below grade uses, and various other indoor and outdoor uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Crane Plastics Company LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Burger, Jeffrey R. Brandt, David W. Smith, John P. Frechette, Kevin T. Burt
  • Patent number: 6863970
    Abstract: A combination fastener and foam sheet having enhanced fastener retention and methods of forming a foam sheet are provided so that the fastener is not easily removed from the foam sheet when an outward force is applied thereto. The combination preferably includes a foam sheet including a fibrous material and urethane foam material abuttingly contacting and substantially surrounding the fibrous material so that the fibrous material is substantially contained within and retained by the urethane foam material. The combination also preferably includes a fastener having threaded portions positioned within the foam sheet so that the threaded portions are retained in the foam sheet and are not easily removed when an outward force is applied thereto. The foam sheet preferably also has a strengthening material such as glass also substantially surrounded by the urethane foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Penske Composites
    Inventor: Herman Novak
  • Patent number: 6861132
    Abstract: Disclosed is a porous film made of a resin composition containing (I) (i) a propylene-ethylene copolymer or (ii) a polypropylene-based resin mixture containing a propylene-ethylene copolymer, each having an ethylene content of 3.0 to 7.0 wt. % and an MFR measured at 230° C. of 2.0 to 4.0 g/10 min and (II) a ?-crystal nucleating agent; the film having a porosity of 20 to 80%, a Gurley air permeability of 5,000 sec/100 cc or lower as measured according to JIS P-8117, a water vapor permeability of 2,000 g/m2·24 h or higher as measured according to JIS Z-0208 and a water pressure resistance of 75 kPa or higher as measured according to JIS L-1092 using an aqueous surfactant solution; a process for producing the same; and an absorbent article employing the porous film as a backsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: New Japan Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Ikeda, Kiyoshi Sadamitsu, Manabu Hoki, Kenichiro Nagata, Toshiaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6861133
    Abstract: A composite molding is formed by welding and joining a foam to a substrate made of a synthetic resin, the foam including a hard skin layer and a foamed layer formed by foaming a foamable synthetic resin in an unhardened state within the skin layer as the pressure of a cavity is decreased, wherein the skin layer includes a cover covering the foamed layer and a collar projecting outward from the edge of the cover on the substrate side while being directly welded and joined to the surface of the substrate. Therefore, the edge of the skin layer on the substrate side can be adequately hardened, thereby enabling adequate formation of the foamed layer and adequate welding between the foam and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Moriroku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Koike, Kouji Akasaka
  • Patent number: 6861134
    Abstract: A retroreflective article comprises a) a microporous substrate (52) containing a plurality of pores (56) which are less than 0.5 ?m in diameter; and b) a layer of reflective material (54) located on the surface (58) of the substrate such that the reflective material layer at least partially obscures a plurality of the pores of the substrate. A method for the production of a reflective article comprises the steps of a) providing a substrate which contains pores which have a diameter of less than 0.5 ?m; and b) applying a layer of reflective material to the substrate in such a way that the reflective material layer at least partially obscures a plurality of the pores of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Omnova Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Eric M. Peters
  • Patent number: 6858291
    Abstract: To address the conflict between structural strength and flexibility in a conventional elastic belt for a papermaking calender, and to reduce manufacturing time, a belt in which the paper sheet-facing side of a base body side is covered by a high molecular weight elastic layer, is characterized in that the high molecular weight elastic layer is composed of a dense, first high molecular weight elastic layer and a second, high molecular weight elastic layer having a multitude of small voids of almost the same size. Flexibility of the layer having small voids is achieved while the dense surface layer is adapted to the ruggedness of the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Sakuma, Yasuhiro Tsutsumi, Kazumasa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6858290
    Abstract: Microporous articles formed by thermally induced phase separation from a diluent in combination with a thermoplastic polymer and a fluorochemical additive providing novel fluid repellent articles. Such articles are useful in clothing, barrier membranes, optical films in electronic devices (such as light reflective and dispersive films), and protective garments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James S. Mrozinski, Chetan P. Jariwala