Patents by Inventor Andrew C. Harvey
Andrew C. Harvey 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).
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Patent number: 6258311Abstract: A method for producing a multiplicity of fastener element molding cavities extending from a mold surface, for molding a plastic product having fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from a product base, and a mold so produced. The mold cavities are formed by depositing multiple layers of plating material on a workpiece in a predetermined pattern selected to produce a desired mold cavity shape, or by depositing a thick stratum of plating material over an array of fastener elements and then removing the fastener elements to leave shaped cavities within the plating material. The mold may be in the form of a roll or belt for continuous processing, or in any form for discrete injection molding. Molds having fastener element cavities defined by rigid cast materials are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Stephen C. Jens, Andrew C. Harvey, Gilbert G. Fryklund, Scott M. Filion, Samuel W. Pollard, Keith G. Buzzell, Shawn C. Banker, Howard Kingsford, Joseph K. Parshley, Clinton Dowd, Christopher M. Gallant, James W. Babineau, Martin I. Jacobs
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Patent number: 6224364Abstract: An injection molded product, having an array of fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from a surface of the product, is molded in a closed cavity die. One half of the die has a mold surface with a region having an array of fastener element cavities extending therefrom for molding the fastener elements. The other half of the die has a mold surface aligned with the mold surface of the first mold part to define therebetween, in a closed condition, a mold cavity constructed to receive molten plastic for molding the product. The mold cavity includes a first portion comprising a majority of the volume of the mold cavity, and a second portion contiguous with the first portion and defined in part by the region of the first mold part surface having the array of fastener element cavities.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1998Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventor: Andrew C. Harvey
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Patent number: 6203941Abstract: A battery including a polar solvent transportive, ionically conductive separator formed directly on an electrode is prepared by applying a coating composition containing a polymer or gel dispersed in a polar solvent directly to the electrode surface and solidifying materials in the coating composition to form a separator membrane.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: Samuel Firestone Reichert, Bernice Shou-Hua Chang, Kevin Keough, Andrew C. Harvey, Robert Francis Kovar, Thomas M. Tiano
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Patent number: 6132668Abstract: This invention relates in general to the formation of thick films having a biaxial molecular orientation. Such films are prepared in accordance with the present invention from rod-like extended chain aromatic-heterocyclic ordered polymers. Such films have high tensile strength, modulus, and environmental resistance characteristics. A preferred ordered polymer for use in the present invention is poly (para-phenylenebenzo bisthiazole), (PBT), a compound having the structure: ##STR1## The present invention is also directed to methods and apparatus suitable for producing biaxially oriented films, coatings, and like materials from ordered polymers, preferably PBT.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1990Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.Inventors: Dirk M. Baars, Donald D. Bretches, Robert B. Davis, Andrew C. Harvey, Richard W. Lusignea
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Patent number: 6120367Abstract: A partially automated decoring saw having a tubular blade and a table surface partially blocking the saw blade opening and means decreasing the blockage temporarily to allow for passage of an enlarged portion of the core into the saw. A core knocker can also be provided, as can air purge of blade seals to achieve partial self-cleaning.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1998Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: IBP, inc.Inventors: Jerry Silliman Scott, Steven Wesley Henry, William Lauren Mahl, James F. Dill, William G. Leary, Andrew C. Harvey
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Patent number: 6099289Abstract: A method for producing a multiplicity of miniature cavities extending from a mold surface for molding a plastic product having features integrally molded with and extending from a product base, and a mold so produced. The mold cavities are formed by depositing multiple layers of plating material on a workpiece in a predetermined pattern selected to produce a desired mold cavity shape. The mold may be in the form of a roll or belt for continuous processing, or in any form for discrete injection molding. The invention is particularly applicable to the production of touch fastener products, such as those with arrays of miniature hooks.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1997Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Stephen C. Jens, Andrew C. Harvey, Gilbert G. Fryklund, Scott M. Filion, Samuel W. Pollard, Keith G. Buzzell, Shawn C. Banker
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Patent number: 6059558Abstract: Injection molding fastener element products employing a series of laterally moveable mold plates that define, in part, mold cavities for fastener elements. The laterally moveable mold plates move into open spaces provided by mold plates that retract or project in a direction normal to the base of the fastener product. This at least partially opens the fastener cavities to release the fastener elements.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1998Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Velcro IndustriesInventors: Keith G. Buzzell, William Clune, Andrew C. Harvey, Kevin E. Keough
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Patent number: 6045737Abstract: A flat and nearly mechanically isotropic polymer film or sheet, or a tube, can be formed by laminating two or more films, preferably by coextrusion of a liquid crystal polymer film and a thermoplastic polymer film. A liquid crystal polymer layer may be combined with one or more thermoplastic polymer layer in various arrangements. The liquid crystal, and possibly the thermoplastic as well, may have a controlled molecular orientation. The film may be formed by passing a polymer through a set of two or three tubular rotors which are concentric and have facing surfaces which define inner and outer annular polymer flow channels.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1998Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Superex Polymer, Inc.Inventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Richard W. Lusignea, Leslie S. Rubin
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Patent number: 6039556Abstract: Molding apparatus and method for molding of features integral with a base, such as in the production of fastener elements for hook-and-loop type touch fasteners, e.g. by the Fischer process, employs a mold roll formed of rings that have coolant passages formed within the ring components themselves for substantially direct contact with cooling liquid. Axial tie rods compress the mold rings together, contributing to the sealing of the coolant passages and the stiffness of the mold roll. Other types of sealing are disclosed. Mold cavities, including cavities used for injection molding, and cooling passages formed in either mold rings or injection mold plates by photo-chemical etching, laser machining and other techniques are disclosed. Various machines and methods taking unique advantage of these features are disclosed, including ring alignment methods.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1997Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Stephen C. Jens, Andrew C. Harvey, Richard M. Formato
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Patent number: 5971738Abstract: Molding apparatus and method for continuous molding of features integral with a base, such as in the production of fastener elements for hook-and-loop type touch fasteners, e.g. by the Fischer process, employs a mold roll formed of rings that have coolant passages formed within the ring components themselves for substantially direct contact with cooling liquid. Axial tie rods compress the mold rings together, contributing to the sealing of the coolant passages and the stiffness of the mold roll. Other types of sealing are disclosed. Mold cavities and cooling passages formed by photo-chemical etching, laser machining and other techniques are disclosed. Various machines and methods taking unique advantage of these features are disclosed, including ring alignment methods.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Stephen C. Jens, Andrew C. Harvey, Richard M. Formato, Samuel W. Pollard, James Stumpf
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Patent number: 5945131Abstract: Improvements for an apparatus for continuously molding small fastener elements integral with a base web from a flowable resin. The apparatus includes a rotating cylindrical mold roll defining small fastener element-shaped mold cavities in its peripheral surface. Resin is forced into the cavities under pressure at a gap between the mold roll and either a pressure roll, a pressure nozzle, or a belt. The improvements compensate for the crowning of the mold roll under high molding pressures, enabling the molding of wider products. Other gap controls include skewing, product thickness feedback, and active roll bending. Some pressure and backup rolls have compliant surfaces for conforming to the mold roll to avoid high contact loads that can damage the cavities.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1997Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Stephen C. Jens, Howard A. Kingsford, J. Scott Neumann, Richard M. Formato
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Patent number: 5922222Abstract: An apparatus and electro-discharge machining method for making fastener-shaped mold surfaces in mold plates for making a mold for molding a fastener product having an array of fastener elements. An electro-discharge is created between an electrode and a stack of sheet-form blanks of plate material such that material is removed from the blanks to produce mold plates, each mold plate having a series of fastener element-shaped mold surfaces extending inwardly from an outer edge of the plate. Extremely small tip radii (e.g., less than 0.001 inch) can be produced with the invention. Since a multitude of finished mold plates can be formed at once, the invention is extremely cost effective in producing mold plates with accurately-formed mold surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: Stephen C. Jens, Andrew C. Harvey
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Patent number: 5843539Abstract: A flat and nearly mechanically isotropic polymer film or sheet, or a tube, can be formed by laminating two or more films, preferably by coextrusion of a liquid crystal polymer film and a thermoplastic polymer film. A liquid crystal polymer layer may be combined with one or more thermoplastic polymer layer in various arrangements. The liquid crystal, and possibly the thermoplastic as well, may have a controlled molecular orientation. The film may also be formed by passing a polymer through a set of two or three tubular rotors which are concentric and have facing surfaces which define inner and outer annular polymer flow channels.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1995Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.Inventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Richard W. Lusignea
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Patent number: 5653582Abstract: Liquid ring pumps with rotating canisters are supported by at least one radial fluid bearing pad. The bearing fluid is either a gas or a liquid. The radial fluid bearing pads can be of either the hydrodynamic or hydrostatic type. Holes in each bearing pad are used to introduce bearing fluid to the clearance between the rotating canister and the housing of the pump. Each radial bearing pad can be mounted to the housing using a ball joint or a bladder. Access ports formed in the housing provide access to the radial bearing pads. Axial fluid bearings are mounted to the housing using shims or threaded bolts so that the axial position of the axial bearings can be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: The Nash Engineering CompanyInventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Richard G. Cadotte, Thomas R. Dardis, Harold K. Haavik, Ellis J. Cooper
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Patent number: 5589236Abstract: A flat and nearly mechanically isotropic polymer film or sheet, or a tube, can be formed by laminating two or more films, preferably by coextrusion of a liquid crystal polymer film and a thermoplastic polymer film. A liquid crystal polymer layer may be combined with one or more thermoplastic polymer layer in various arrangements. The liquid crystal, and possibly the thermoplastic as well, may have a controlled molecular orientation. The film may be formed by passing a polymer through a set of two or three tubular rotors which are concentric and have facing surfaces which define inner and outer annular polymer flow channels.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1994Date of Patent: December 31, 1996Assignee: Superex Polymer Inc.Inventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Richard W. Lusignea, Leslie S. Rubin
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Patent number: 5565077Abstract: A transverse flow, self-heating electrically conductive sorption system for separating species of different adsorption characteristics in a fluid includes a containment vessel, an electrically conductive permeable sorbent bed having a multiplicity of adsorption sites in said vessel; a porting structure for supplying contaminated fluid in a first direction at one surface of the bed and for receiving the contaminated fluid at another surface of the bed; and a pair of spaced electrodes for applying current through the bed in a second direction transverse to the first direction to self-heat the electrically conductive sorbent bed.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1994Date of Patent: October 15, 1996Assignee: Foster Miller, Inc.Inventors: Harris Gold, Richard E. Hicks, Andrew C. Harvey, John F. McCoy, III
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Patent number: 5505825Abstract: An electrically conductive sorption and in situ regeneration system and method for separating species of different adsorption characteristics in a fluid includes flowing a contaminated fluid through an electrically conductive sorbent bed having a multiplicity of adsorption sites, and providing an electric current through the sorbent bed to heat the bed to increase the adsorption sites available for adsorption by the bed of the more strongly adsorbed specie by inhibiting adsorption by the bed of the less strongly adsorbed specie which might occupy adsorption sites in the bed.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1994Date of Patent: April 9, 1996Assignee: Foster Miller Inc.Inventors: Harris Gold, Richard E. Hicks, Andrew C. Harvey, John F. McCoy, III
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Patent number: 5288529Abstract: A flat and nearly mechanically isotropic liquid crystal polymer film (38) can be formed by laminating two continuous biaxially oriented films. A laminate is produced having two thin outer surface portions which are oriented in one direction, and a relatively thick inner portion oriented in a transverse direction. The film may also be formed by passing a polymer through a set of three tubular rotors (30) which are concentric and having surfaces which are concentric and define inner and outer annular polymer flow channels (33, 35) between them. These rotors may rotate in the same or opposite directions. Another way to make the film is with a slit-type die (90) through which a polymer flows in one direction, while a moving band (91) passes continuously in a transverse direction. These ordered-polymer films are useful, for example, in the production of printed circuit boards.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1991Date of Patent: February 22, 1994Assignee: Foster-Miller Inc.Inventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Richard W. Lusignea, Leslie S. Rubin
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Patent number: 5135783Abstract: The present invention is based upon the discovery that ordered polymers, such as PBzT, can be readily formed into tubular structures which retain a biaxial orientation imparted thereto during processing, and that these rigid, high-stiffness tubular components can exhibit near zero coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Zero CTE materials are not adversely affected by vast swings in temperature, e.g., from very hot to very cold in short periods of time, nor are they adversely affected by long term exposure to either temperature extreme. The tubular components of the present invention thus represent a revolutionary advance in space based hardware, as the extreme temperatures experienced there will not affect rigidity of structures built using these components.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1989Date of Patent: August 4, 1992Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.Inventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Richard W. Lusignea, James L. Racich
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Patent number: 4975312Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of multiaxially oriented (e.g., biaxially) thermotropic polymers as a substrate material for the preparation of printed wire boards (PWB). In preferred embodiments, the PWB of the present invention comprises a generic, high density, organic multilayer PWB comprising XYDAR.RTM. and/or VECTRA.RTM. films, capable of being employed as a high density leadless perimeter and in grid array ceramic chip packages.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1988Date of Patent: December 4, 1990Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Lusignea, James L. Racich, Andrew C. Harvey, Ruby R. Chandy