Patents by Inventor Alan H. Norris

Alan H. Norris has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4957686
    Abstract: Because S. Sanguis is the first colonizer of newly cleaned teeth and because other bacteria then attach to it, the formation of dental plaque is reduced on newly cleaned teeth by introducing into the mouth bacteriophages which are parasitic to S. Sanguis. Because S. Sanguis is the means of attachment of plaque forming bacterial colonies to tooth surfaces and forms 10-15% of the organisms in plaque, destruction of S. Sanguis by introduction of its parasitic bacteriophages will remove plaque from teeth surfaces. And removal of plaque containing acid forming bacteria and other harmful bacteria reduces the incidence of dental caries and other disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Inventor: Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4898086
    Abstract: At dawn the outside air is coolest over the 24 hour daily cycle. A photo electric device actuates a fan just after dawn to ventilate the house and is later switched off by a time delay device. Existing fans may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Inventor: Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4891210
    Abstract: Acid forming bacteria in the mouth are controlled by the use of bacteriophages so reducing acid which can cause dental caries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventor: Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4279120
    Abstract: Self-twisting yarns are made by a system in which a strand twisting device is engaged with the strand and moves at strand speed to twist the oppositely-extending sections of the strand in opposite directions. The strand is brought together with another strand and released, enabling it to untwist and twist itself to the other strand. Various arrangements are disclosed for maximizing the distance between twist reversal nodes, for cabling plied yarns together, for strengthening the strands, for reducing the tensile stresses imposed on the strands and for producing unique products with non-uniform node spacing or unequal strand lengths between adjacent pairs of nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4276740
    Abstract: Two or more single strands are formed and false twisted to provide sections of S-twist and Z-twist which are longitudinally spaced apart and separated by nodes which have no twist. The strands while moving longitudinally are held against rotation at points between which the adjacent strands twist in a same direction. The twist between each pair of points becomes redistributed, and the strands are released to enable them to twist together to form a self twist plural strand yarn.The strands are held against rotation during twist redistribution by apparatus which includes a device for interconnecting the strands at the points, and a rotation preventer which moves with and lies between the strands adjacent to the interconnected points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4246750
    Abstract: Groups of singles yarns are false-twisted, brought together node locked and plied to form plied strands. Additional torque in the plying direction is applied beyond the equilibrium point to add twist to the plied strands. Jet devices using air or steam can be used to apply the additional torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan H. Norris, Phillip W. Chambley
  • Patent number: 4215642
    Abstract: A stable plied yarn is produced by false-twisting two or more singles yarn strands with false-twist jets and passing the strands around a yarn wheel whereon the nodes are joined. The strands leave the wheel and ply together. The plied yarn is collected and can be tufted into carpet. The pressure of the fluid (air) supplied to the false-twist jets is varied to product varying amounts of twist in the singles strands which results in a range of twist amounts in the yarn plied therefrom, thereby avoiding streak effects in products made from the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Assignee: WWG Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4198735
    Abstract: A temporary fabric is formed by joining groups of two or more yarn strands at a time together at various longitudinally spaced points, forming generally transverse lines of joined points across an array of a plurality of parallel strands. No weft or filler yarn is used. An apparatus for joining is disclosed including a drum having a plurality of abrasive rotating joining discs in the surface thereof. A second embodiment includes joining discs moved transversely across a plurality of longitudinally traveling strands. The fabric can be separated into individual strands by pulling the strands apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1980
    Assignee: WWG Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4186549
    Abstract: Self-twisted yarn is packaged on a take-up device to prevent loss or modification of the twist previously imparted to the yarn by maintaining the yarn in a substantially rotation-free state as it is guided onto the take-up device. This is accomplished by wrapping the yarn around an elongated guide rod as it is fed to the take-up device under tension or by controlling the tensioned free length of the yarn as it is guided onto the take-up device to preclude rotation of the nodes or points of twist reversal in the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1980
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4173861
    Abstract: Singles yarns are formed from a synthetic material, twisted in one direction, heat-set, cooled and false-twisted in the opposite direction. Two similarly treated strands are joined at their nodes and plied, resulting in an improved ply-twist singles twist ratio. The first twisting and heat-setting can be done concurrently using jet twisting with steam, and apparatus for accomplishing this is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan H. Norris, Phillip W. Chambley
  • Patent number: 4173115
    Abstract: False-twisted yarn strands are separately carried around a guide wheel and the nodes thereof are brought together and locked by applying heat to the nodes and pressing them together, after which the strands are self-twisted. Embodiments include a cam actuated clamping device which holds the yarns in an ultrasonic transducer to which energy is supplied to accomplish the welding. Devices using resistance heating and laser impulses are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4170868
    Abstract: False-twisted yarn strands are separately carried around a guide wheel and the nodes thereof are brought together and locked by mechanical entanglement, after which the strands are self-twisted. Embodiments of entanglement joining devices include reciprocating friction plates which rub the fibers together and twist them, causing joining, the plates being carried on the guide wheel. A needle punching device carried by the wheel is disclosed, the needles being reciprocated by a cam structure within the wheel. In a third embodiment edges of oppositely rotating overlapping discs contact and twist fibers in the node area, causing entanglement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1979
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4170103
    Abstract: False-twisted yarns are continuously fed to a locking mechanism on a rotating guide wheel. The locking device has a clamping shoe for engaging the yarn, after which the direction of false twist is reversed. Two additional clamping shoes then engage the yarn upstream and downstream of the first clamping point. The first shoe is then retracted to permit the twist between the additional shoes to cancel, and a fluid vortex is used to entangle the yarn filaments, locking the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1979
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan H. Norris, Phillip W. Chambley
  • Patent number: 4157683
    Abstract: A method of printing a multicolor design on a long, continuous web or carpet in a machine having uniformly spaced printing stations and apparatus for longitudinally advancing the carpet in steps between printing operations. Two or more stations adjacent each other are used for each color to appear in the design being printed. The carpet movement increment distances are selected as a function of total number of colors n, total number of stations P and the number of stations per color N to increase production. In the preferred embodiment a repeated sequence of distances D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 are selected so that D.sub.1 +D.sub.2 =2N, D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 each being odd integral numbers of pattern repeat lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1979
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4142355
    Abstract: Self-twist plural yarn strands are produced by a system wherein at least two singles yarn strands are individually twisted to form twisted strands each having longitudinally spaced nodes. The strands are separately conveyed around a yarn wheel and brought together in a parallel relationship with the nodes of one strand substantially aligned with the nodes of each other strand. The corresponding nodes from one strand are fastened to those of each other strand by heating with an electric arc and the strands are removed from the wheel and allowed to ply. The node fastening means comprises a pair of electrodes and a circuit for supplying arc-producing voltage across the electrodes. One electrode is mounted on the wheel and extends diagonally across and under the node location. The other electrode is fixed adjacent the wheel so that the arc traverses the yarn as it passes from one end of the diagonal electrode to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: WWG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4123893
    Abstract: Self-twist plural yarn strands are produced by a system wherein at least two singles yarn strands are individually twisted to form twisted strands each having longitudinally spaced nodes, and strands are brought together in a parallel relationship with the nodes of one strand substantially aligned with the nodes of each other strand. The corresponding nodes from one strand are fastened to those of each other strand, and the strands are allowed to ply. The node fastening means comprises a rotating member having a contact surface for fastening the nodes by gathering and twisting of the fibers from one strand with those of another strand at the nodes of each respective strand. Ply yarn twist uniformity is assured through the use of improved twist insertion jets, together with a means for holding singles yarns separate to allow longitudinal levelling of singles yarn torque prior to plying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1978
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4120143
    Abstract: A stable plied yarn is produced by false-twisting two or more singles yarn strands with jets and passing the strands around a yarn wheel whereon the nodes are joined. The strands leave the wheel and ply together. The plied yarn passes through a reversible jet aspirator which assists the plying and propels the yarn through a coiled tube. The aspirator is supplied with air or with steam to bulk the yarn. After leaving the tube, the yarn can be caused to strike a solid surface to further enhance bulking. A press roll at the yarn wheel aids in defining a twist trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4118842
    Abstract: A weave-de-weave process in which a plurality of weft loops are fluidly injected from opposite sides and normal to a plurality of warp yarns to form a composite tape. The tape is deweaved after the warp is space dyed by splitting the interior of the tape to expose the looped ends of the weft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventors: Alan H. Norris, Phillip W. Chambley
  • Patent number: 4114549
    Abstract: A pile fabric, which may be used, for example, in carpets and in terry toweling, comprises a backing and a pile of plied yarns and singles yarns, each of the plied yarns consisting of two or more single yarns which are individually twisted by vortex jet air devices to form an alternating pattern of "S" twists and "Z" twists along their lengths. The singles yarns are joined at their nodes to form a plied yarn in which the spacing between the nodes may be selected to give an increased yarn bulk and with the singles yarns between the nodes false twisted in the same direction, the singles having either an "S" or a "Z" twist. The singles yarn between the fastened nodes are permitted to self-twist together in the opposite direction as the twist direction of the singles yarns, forming a stable self-twisted plied yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip W. Chambley, Alan H. Norris
  • Patent number: 4112561
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing filaments of varying denier includes electrically activated tension means disposed between a feed roller and a draw roller for engaging the filament and producing a variable tension thereon when activated. A circuit arrangement for randomly activating the electrically activated tension means includes a thermally activated switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventors: Alan H. Norris, Phillip W. Chambley