Patents by Inventor Joerg Nickel

Joerg Nickel 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).

  • Publication number: 20230302777
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, preferably co-extruded, plastic film with improved modulus properties, which is suitable, in particular, for producing three-dimensionally shaped articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Juergen Winkler, Wolfgang Bräuer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert, Chunhua Li, Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 11766314
    Abstract: A multilayer sheet comprising first and second layers is provided. The first layer consists of a co-polyester. The second layer consists of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having an elongation at break of greater than 200%, a hardness of 60A to 85D, an ultimate tensile strength of greater than about 5000 psi, and a light transmission between 400 nm and 800 nm of greater than about 75%. A mold is provided and the multilayer sheet is thermoformed over the mold to form a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities configured to receive and reposition a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. Excess material is trimmed from the thermoformed multilayer sheet to form a multilayer dental aligner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert
  • Patent number: 11766313
    Abstract: A multilayer sheet comprising first, second, and third layers is provided. The first layer consists of a co-polyester having an elongation at break of greater than 70%. The second layer consists of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having an elongation at break of greater than 200% and a hardness of about 60 A to about 85 D. The first layer has a hardness greater than the hardness of the second layer. A mold is provided and the multilayer sheet is thermoformed over the mold to form a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities configured to receive and position a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. Excess material is trimmed from the thermoformed multilayer sheet to form the multilayer dental aligner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert
  • Patent number: 11691399
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, preferably co-extruded, plastic film with improved modulus properties, which is suitable, in particular, for producing three-dimensionally shaped articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Covestro Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Jürgen Winkler, Wolfgang Bräuer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert, Chunhua Li, Yan Chen
  • Publication number: 20230190414
    Abstract: Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Chunhua LI, Yan CHEN, Heinz PUDLEINER, Klaus MEYER, Joerg NICKEL, Craig PEHLERT
  • Publication number: 20230181288
    Abstract: Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Chunhua LI, Yan CHEN, Heinz PUDLEINER, Klaus MEYER, Joerg NICKEL, Craig PEHLERT
  • Patent number: 11648090
    Abstract: Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert
  • Patent number: 11648091
    Abstract: Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert
  • Patent number: 11576753
    Abstract: A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert
  • Publication number: 20220409344
    Abstract: Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Chunhua LI, Yan CHEN, Heinz PUDLEINER, Klaus MEYER, Joerg NICKEL, Craig PEHLERT
  • Publication number: 20220412724
    Abstract: Provided is a measurement device (10) for detecting local thickenings in a film web (20), more particularly an extrusion and/or coextrusion film, having a first roll (14) for rolling on the film web (20) that can be moved along, a second roll (18) that can be supported indirectly above the film web (20) on the first roll (14) for rolling on the film web (20) that can be moved along, wherein the second roll (18) is resiliently guided in the thickness direction of the film web (20) that can be moved along, more particularly in the vertical direction, and at least one distance sensor (24) that is stationary with respect to the first roll (14) and/or to the film web (20) that can be moved along, for detecting a distance of the second roll (18). The second roll (18), which can be displaced from a local thickening of the film web (20) in the thickness direction of the film web (20), makes it possible to quickly and easily detect local thickenings in a film web (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander PAULUS, Klaus MEYER, Joerg NICKEL, Jan HOLTERMANN
  • Publication number: 20220338957
    Abstract: Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Chunhua LI, Yan CHEN, Heinz PUDLEINER, Klaus MEYER, Joerg NICKEL, Craig PEHLERT
  • Publication number: 20220324211
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, preferably co-extruded, plastic film with improved modulus properties, which is suitable, in particular, for producing three-dimensionally shaped articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Heinz PUDLEINER, Klaus MEYER, Jürgen WINKLER, Wolfgang BRÄUER, Joerg NICKEL, Craig PEHLERT, Chunhua LI, Yan CHEN
  • Publication number: 20220287803
    Abstract: Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Chunhua LI, Yan CHEN, Heinz PUDLEINER, Klaus MEYER, Joerg NICKEL, Craig PEHLERT
  • Patent number: 11413854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, preferably co-extruded, plastic film with improved modulus properties, which is suitable, in particular, for producing three-dimensionally shaped articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Jürgen Winkler, Wolfgang Bräuer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert, Chunhua Li, Yan Chen
  • Publication number: 20220249203
    Abstract: A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Chunhua LI, Yan CHEN, Heinz PUDLEINER, Klaus MEYER, Joerg NICKEL, Craig PEHLERT
  • Patent number: 11213369
    Abstract: Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert
  • Patent number: 11154384
    Abstract: A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert
  • Publication number: 20210212802
    Abstract: A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Chunhua LI, Yan CHEN, Heinz PUDLEINER, Klaus MEYER, Joerg NICKEL, Craig PEHLERT
  • Patent number: 10973613
    Abstract: A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert